The holidays are a time of celebration, but it can quickly become overwhelming with the parties, school programs, work demands and more. It's important to stay on track and prioritize your time.
Keep It Simple - Sticking with simple family traditions not only creates wonderful memories, but it sets the annual expectation for your loved ones. Children will remember simple things like driving through the neighborhood to look at lights, making grandmas gingerbread cookies and drinking hot chocolate while cutting paper snowflakes. Plus, it's never too late to start a new tradition if you want to add to the family fun. We like serving a meal at a local shelter and packing Operation Christmas Child boxes.
Stay On Budget - Make a budget for gifts, travel and holiday meals and stick with it. Overspending leads to anxiety. Avoid the urge to keep up with social media and the commercialization of Christmas. No matter where you live, there are local artisans, family-owned shops -- and of course online small business like The Balanced Bra Company who appreciate your support. Remember, the perfect gift is the one you give from your heart.
Take Care of Yourself - There are plenty of temptations with sweet treats and extra cocktails at the holiday parties. We can't pass up homemade cookies, but we balance it out with a healthy dinner and a few extra steps that day. If you regularly work out, try and stick to your normal schedule. Most importantly, don't skimp on sleep. Your body needs rest to stay healthy, so get your ZZZs.
Here are few more tips from our Instagram followers:
Breathe! While it's something we take for granted as it's an involuntary action...how we breathe can affect our moods and mental health. Practice for 8 repetitions...deep inhale through the nose for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale out the mouth for 8. Repeat 8 reps. I like to do this while driving a long commute as well. -Kristen
I love to fill a small saucepan of water, and add a sliced lemon, three sprigs of rosemary, and a tablespoon or so of vanilla extract. It makes your home smell magical around the holidays. -Heather
Buying a case of wine/champagne, making cookies with the kids and stocking up on tape! - Mel
I love always keeping fresh cookies at hand and hot chocolate to keep me sane throughout the holidays - Kristen
I keep a few extra candles, bottles of wine and holiday snack tins (from Costco) for hostess gifts. They're ready to go for simple gifts. -Stacey
Thank you for sharing your tips and tricks with us. We wish you all a safe, happy and healthy holiday! Stay Balanced