Minimize Holiday Stress

Dear Visitor,
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Organized to Succeed
Circulation 3,500
Vol. 2 Number 13 - December 13, 2007
Publisher: Christi Youd Christi@OrganizeEnterprise.com

http://www.OrganizeEnterprise.com

(C) Organize Enterprise LLC
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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. Minimizing Stress and Depression During the Holidays

2. .Clutter Busters: Simple Strategies for Cleaning Up Your Act

3. Life saving Habit

4. Websites for Getting Organized

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1. Minimize Stress & Depression During the Holidays
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Stress and depression can ruin your holidays. Here's how to
keep the sparkle.

For some people, the holidays bring unwelcome guests stress
and depression. And it's no wonder. In an effort to pull off
a perfect Hallmark holiday, you might find yourself facing a
dizzying array of demands work, parties, shopping, baking,
cleaning, caring for kids on school break or elderly parents,
and scores of other chores. So much for peace and joy, right?

Actually, with some practical tips, you can minimize the stress
and depression that often accompany the holidays. You may even
end up enjoying the holidays more than you thought you would.

The trigger points of holiday stress

Holiday stress and depression are often the result of three
main trigger points. Understanding these trigger points can
help you plan ahead on how to accommodate them.

Here are the three issues that commonly trigger holiday
stress or depression:

Relationships. Relationships can cause turmoil, conflict or
stress at any time. But tensions are often heightened during
the holidays. Family misunderstandings and conflict can intensify
especially if you're all thrust together for several days.
Conflicts are bound to arise with so many needs and interests
to accommodate. On the other hand, if you're facing the holidays
without a loved one, you may find yourself especially lonely or
sad.

Finances. Like your relationships, your financial situation can
cause stress at any time of the year. Overspending during the
holidays on gifts, travel, food and entertainment can increase
stress as you try to make ends meet while ensuring that everyone
on your shopping list is happy.

Physical demands. The strain of shopping, attending social
gatherings and preparing holiday meals can wipe you out.
Feeling exhausted can increase your stress, creating a vicious
cycle. Exercise and sleep good antidotes for stress and fatigue
may take a back seat to chores and errands. High demands,
stress, lack of exercise, and overindulgence in food and drink
these are the ingredients for holiday illness.

12 pre-emptive strategies for holiday stress

When stress is at its peak, it's hard to stop and regroup. Take
steps to help prevent normal holiday depression from progressing
into chronic depression. Try these tips:

Acknowledge your feelings. If a loved one has recently died or you
aren't near loved ones, realize that it's normal to feel sadness
and grief. It's OK now and then to take time just to cry or express
your feelings. You don't have to force yourself to be happy just
because it's the holiday season.

Seek support. If you feel isolated or down, seek out family members
and friends, or community, religious or social services. They can
offer support and companionship. Consider volunteering at a community
or religious function. Getting involved and helping others can lift
your spirits and broaden your social circle. Also, enlist support
for organizing holiday gatherings, as well as meal preparation and
cleanup. You don't have to go it alone. Don't be a martyr.

Be realistic. As families change and grow, traditions often change
as well. Hold on to those you can, if you want to. But understand
that in some cases that may no longer be possible. Perhaps your
entire extended family can't gather together at your house. Instead,
find new ways to celebrate together from afar, such as sharing
pictures, e-mails or videotapes. Set differences aside.

Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they
don't live up to your expectations. Set aside grievances until a
more appropriate time for discussion. With stress and activity levels
high, the holidays might not be conducive to making quality time for
relationships. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed
when something goes awry. Chances are, they're feeling the effects of
holiday stress, too.

Stick to a budget. Before you go shopping, decide how much money you
can afford to spend on gifts and other items. Then be sure to stick
to your budget. If you don't, you could feel anxious and tense for
months afterward as you struggle to pay the bills. Don't try to buy
happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Donate to a charity in someone's
name, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange.

Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking,
visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and
then make one big food-shopping trip. That'll help prevent
a last-minute scramble to buy forgotten ingredients and
you'll have time to make another pie if the first one's a
flop. Allow extra time for travel so that delays won't
worsen your stress. Learn to say no. Believe it or not,
people will understand if you can't do certain projects
or activities.

If you say yes only to what you really want to do, you'll
avoid feeling resentful and overwhelmed. If it's really
not possible to say no to something your boss asks you
to work overtime try to remove something from your agenda
to make up for the lost time.

Don't abandon healthy habits. Don't let the holidays
become a dietary free-for-all. Some indulgence is OK,
but overindulgence may add to your stress and guilt.
Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that
you don't go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks.
Continue to get plenty of sleep and schedule time for
physical activity.

Take a breather. While you may not have time every day
for a silent night, make some time for yourself.
Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions,
may refresh you enough to handle everything you need
to do. Steal away to a quiet place, even if it's the
bathroom, for a few moments of solitude. Take a walk
at night and stargaze. Listen to soothing music. Find
something that clears your mind, slows your breathing
and restores your calm.

Rethink resolutions. Resolutions can set you up for
failure if they're unrealistic. Don't resolve to
change your whole life to make up for past excess.
Instead, try to return to basic, healthy lifestyle
routines. Set smaller, more specific goals with a
reasonable time frame. Choose resolutions that help
you feel valuable and provide more than only
fleeting moments of happiness.

Forget about perfection. Holiday TV specials are filled
with happy endings. But in real life, people don't
usually resolve problems within an hour or two.
Something always comes up. You may get stuck late
at the office and miss your daughter's school play,
your sister may dredge up an old argument, you may
forget to put nuts in the cake, and your mother may
criticize how you and your partner are raising the
kids. All in the same day. Expect and accept
imperfections.

Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your
best efforts, you may find yourself feeling
persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical
complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless,
and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings
last for several weeks, talk to your doctor or a
mental health professional. You may have depression.
Have it both ways

Remember, one key to minimizing holiday stress and
depression is knowing that the holidays can trigger
stress and depression. Accept that things aren't
always going to go as planned. Then take active steps
to manage stress and depression during the holidays.
You may actually enjoy the holidays this year more
than you thought you could.

Author is Arthur Buchanan
President/CEO
Out of Darkness & Into the Light
43 Oakwood Ave. Suite 1012
Huron Ohio, 44839
567-219-0994 (cell)
http://www.out-of-darkness.com

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2.Clutter Busters
Simple Strategies for Cleaning Up Your Act
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With of the biggest challenges couples and families face
is CLUTTER, both dealing with it and avoiding it. But,
according to experts, there's really no need to stress
over "mess", especially if you learn how to clean up
your act, BEFORE it gets out of control

1. Front and Center: Deal with items such as loose change,
keys, mail, etc. right at the front door. Consider a
console or nearby shelf on the wall on which to place
things neatly and out of the way. And, don't forget
to sort mail immediately tossing anything you'd consider
junk (though that doesn't include bills).

2. Go Barefoot On The Parquet: Okay, one of my biggest
pet peeves is taking shoes off at the front door. After
all, if you're visiting someone or attending a house
party, shoes are part of the ESSENTIAL accessories that
make and complete the outfit. Taking them off just makes
the ensemble look, well, "silly". Still, I'll have to
admit that for the "casual" get- together or on a daily
basis, keeping the floors clean may not be such a great
feat, if friends and family leave their shoes at the door
and walk around in bare or stockingeed feet.

3. Book Ban: Get rid of old books and magazines that are
piling up on the table, nightstand, or on the office or
living room floor. Consider donating books to hospitals,
hospices, nursing homes or to your local library. You can
donate magazines to your local salon, doctor's or dentist's
office. Organize books and magazines you intend to keep on
shelves or in a smart magazine file.

4. Counter Countertop Clutter: Make it a "ritual" to clear
off tabletops and countertops when you are finished using
them or before you retire for the evening. And, don't let
things pile up. Also make sure to have a safe storage spot
for remotes and think about getting a universal one to
program most of your entertainment systems, limiting the
confusion and the clutter.

5. Fun And Games: No doubt children want and need toys,
but they certainly don't need to have them "everywhere".
Make sure you clean up after really small children or help
youngsters clean up after themselves. Have a designated
play area in your home and a storage crate to hold the
essentials... and think about color-coding each crate for
each child.

6. Take A Load Off Doing The Laundry: Make sure everyone
knows to put their clothes in a hamper (not on the floor)
when they are dirty or when they take them off. And, make
sure you separate whites, darks, and colors beforehand.
Finally, consider doing a load of laundry in small increments,
before each basket is full, to avoid laundry overload.

7. Learn To Bottle Things Up: Open bags can take up lots
of space and simply look messy. Consider instead storing
chips, nuts, etc. in pretty glass (or plastic) containers
that can be moved from room to room, offer airtight storage,
can easily be stored or displayed.

8. Stop Playing Hide And Seek With Your Hardware: Instead
of rummaging through boxes, drawers, etc. for the necessary,
nut, bolts and screwdrivers, consider investing in a pegboard.
You can buy a sheet at your local hardware store and hang it
on an "inconspicuous" wall, then purchase the accompanying
accessories designed to help you organize.

About The Author:
http://www.lifamilies.com

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Organizing Services along the Wasatch Front
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Our team of three professional organizers can help you
get your home de-cluttered and organized. Request information
on our organizers, services, and rates at
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3. Life Saving Habit
Be very selective with your gift giving this year. Before
you purchase a toy, or a gadget, or a novelty consider
the likelihood that it will end up being clutter a
year from now. Mix "item" gifts with "experiences" gifts.
You want to be extra careful to only get things that
the recipient will use on a regular basis. DO NOT purchase
gifts they "might" use.
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4. Websites to get your organized.

1. http://www.MyFavoriteContainers.com

2. http://www.ContainersThatFit.com

3. http://www.FixTheOffice.com

4. http://www.OrganizeEnterprise.com
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Articles for your publications
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I have many articles available for reprint in your
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to Succeed. Articles I have written can be viewed at
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Authors Byline:

(C) 2006 Christi Youd. Christi Youd is a professional
speaker, organizer,founder & president of Organize
Enterprise LLC. She's the bestselling author of
Organize Your Home in 10 Minutes a Day and Organize
Your Office for Success. Christi presents keynotes and
seminars on organization,productivity at home and at
work,and life management. Contact her at 801-756-3382
or www.OrganizeEnterprise.com.

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Christi Youd
Organize Enterprise
PO Box 876
American Fork, UT 84003 USA

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