The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
The festive season at the end of the year is a time most people look forward to eagerly. At the same time, this stretch of several weeks can bring a lot of stress and emotional anxiety. Knowing when to decorate, how to organize your home, and how to create the perfect celebratory atmosphere can stimulate a lot of upset that has to be managed successfully. How can a time of year that is meant to be family-oriented and cozy end up causing so much stress? Thankfully, there are several ways that you can beat the seasonal blues before they even begin. Even better, this management can be part of your normal celebratory preparation – you don’t have to do anything out of the ordinary to give yourself a much-needed emotional boost.
Start Decorating at the Right Time
The question of when to start decorating your home is on a lot of people’s minds every year. For many people, Thanksgiving is the signal to begin decorating, but for many households this isn’t enough time. Not having adequate time to prepare leads to more stress – no fun! Instead of trying to cram all the decorating into a couple weekends, try scheduling your decorating to occur over more time, even if it means that these tasks take place well before Thanksgiving. If you think about it, you probably have many seasonal display items that would not look out of place when placed around the home throughout November. Give yourself a break this year and let decorating take place over a longer period of time. This is going to help you feel less stressed as you head towards the holidays.
If you decorate your home with a fresh Christmas tree, you know that they can be a frequent source of holiday frustration. Although fresh tress look and smell lovely, they come with a few extra needs that inexperienced homeowners are not always prepared for. Understand that fresh trees need to be kept watered, so prepare an appropriate amount of water for the size of tree you have selected. The specialist you purchase a tree from can tell you more about the water your tree needs, and about the container that is most appropriate for it.
Fresh trees look their best for around four weeks; you will need to plan your tree decorating tasks around this timeline. Understand that both putting up and taking down your tree will need to take place within this four week window in order to avoid excessive difficulty. Trees that have begun to dry out will shed needs; this causes a mess that requires additional time and energy to clean up.
Learn Your Stress Points
Everyone has their own pressure points when it comes to holiday stress. Cooking, socializing, envet planning, gift shopping, and staying out late are all common sources of holiday-related stress. Think about what makes you the most depressed and anxious. Then, consider ways that you can minimize the sources of this stress. How many holiday parties are you really required to be at? Is it really necessary for you to be this year’s party planner? Consider asking for help or letting someone else have a chance to be in charge. Challenge your ideas of holiday perfection; remember that everything being picture-perfect isn’t what makes a holiday memorable.
Implement These Tips and Tricks for a Hassle-Free Holiday
There are several others ways to make this year’s holiday easier than ever:
Don’t shy away from pre-made decorations – These are handy and can save you a lot of time over making your own.
Replace worn-out electric components – Never risk your home’s safety by using dubious electric goods.
Take time away from the busyness – As fun as the festivities can be, having some downtime away from the rush is also important.
Make This Year Brighter Than Ever
By giving yourself the time you need for decorating, planning ahead to accommodate key decorating tasks, and recognizing your personal stress points, you can prepare to have a stress-free holiday season this year.
