The holidays can make your already busy schedule
seem unmanageable at times. But with a little simple planning and
prioritizing, you can minimize stress and spend more time with your
loved ones.
 |
Make a “to-do” list. List tasks in order
of their importance.
|
|
Make travel plans early. Book flights
and make reservations early to cut down on stress—and possibly
save money. And if you're traveling by plane, arrive at the
airport early to avoid lines and over-booked reservations.
|
|
Don't say “yes” to every holiday invitation.
Pick the events and activities that are most important to you
and say “no thank you” to others.
|
|
Get organized. Keep all of your appointments
clearly marked on one calendar and update it regularly.
|
|
Shop early and wrap gifts as you buy
them.
|
|
Write out holiday cards in advance. Start
early or do a few each night to make it more manageable.
|
|
Make backup care arrangements. If you
have children or adult dependents, find out early about holiday
closings at schools, child care centers or adult day care facilities—and
make backup care arrangements accordingly.
|
|
Simplify tasks. Purchase food that is
easy to prepare, combine errands into one trip, and set aside
a block of time to do tasks (e.g., returning telephone calls,
paying bills, etc.).
|
|
Ask for help. When things threaten to
get overwhelming, reach out to others. |
