Slo-o-o-o-o-w down!
We all just need to slow it right down.
It’s no surprise that almost everybody is stressed, harried, and in a hurry these days. With this week coming to a close, there’s only a few days left to get everything organized for the holidays. And, though Christmas falls on the same day every year, so many of us leave the card-writing, gift-buying and decorations to the very last minute.
And then we get stressed — and find ourselves running all over the place frenzied, flustered and agitated. The perfect opportunity for silly mistakes and accidents to happen, such as forgetting to take your purchases after paying, or losing your keys.
Take a breath. Whatever you have to do won’t get done any faster if you speed along, running from store to store, driving too quickly to and fro. There are just too many other people doing the same thing. The streets are filled with traffic, the buses are crowded, there are lineups at the cash register, and long wait times for customer service.
So, take it easy and plan accordingly, even giving yourself a contingency plan. For example, think of two errands you can do within walking distance from your work during your lunch hour. Do the furthest one first, then, if you run out of time, you can get to the other right after work since it’s close by.
Here’s another idea: trade off with a friend or neighbour. Drop your kids off for dinner and the evening, while you and your partner get some last-minute shopping done. Divvy up the tasks, split up, and get twice as much done in the same amount of time. Then switch and take their kids the next day. Or split the weekend days, so you get to do your stuff in the morning, and your neighbour gets the afternoon.
And ladies, here’s a helpful hint for all of you: let go of the reins and learn to delegate. For whatever reason, the holidays tend to bring out the perfectionist in many of us. We want the house to be immaculate, the food to taste fabulous, the decorations to be just so — and we convince ourselves that nobody can do exactly what we want, the way we want.
That can become a self-fulfilling prophecy if we’re not careful. Get your partner and your family involved. The more they help, the more they’ll want to help. And with their help, things can get done faster, like setting the table, filling the stockings for the cousins, and trimming the tree.
You may even be able to get other things accomplished (maybe even some time for yourself!) while you put your little elves to work.
Christmas time should be relaxed and stress-free, a chance to get together with friends and loved ones, and enjoy some quality time.
Make the most of your time off and have fun.
Happy holidays!
