Cooking probably falls to you on any normal day, but the holidays are anything but normal. You’ll need help and that requires that some things are in place before you can do that. Keep reading to find help for your harried soul.

1. Get Organized – This is a toughie for most people because they don’t know where to begin. The preparation for a holiday meal actually begins weeks before. Right after Thanksgiving, begin making your list of holiday dishes you will prepare for Christmas Day dinner. Go through your cabinets to see what you need. Recipes that call for lesser used items are tops on the list, so you can begin finding those things.

2. Start Shopping – Most family meals require the same types of foods each year. Keeping your kitchen stocked with commonly used staples means not having to run to the store at the last minute. Buy these items for a start: all-purpose flour, sugar, milk, eggs, pasta noodles, baking soda, baking powder, salt. You can even buy meats and freeze them several weeks ahead of time. Around Thanksgiving, sweet potatoes, white potatoes and onions generally go on sale. These can be bought for a low price and they will keep until Christmas.

3. Cook some dishes ahead of time. If you get your Christmas shopping out of the way early, that leaves you with a lot of time leading up to Christmas Day. Use that time to prepare desserts and side dishes. Cakes can be made, cooled and frozen. Do as much of the prep work for cooking as you can in the two or three days before the meal. If you are making a casserole, cook the rice and refrigerate it until you are ready to put it all together.

4. Buy fresh vegetables a week ahead of time. The store will be pandemonium as you get closer to Christmas. Clean, chop them up and freeze them. Do the same with any fruits that you need to use for meals. A day or so before, let them thaw in the fridge.

5. Assign stations on Christmas Eve night. Let everyone know what they will be doing to help prepare the meal. That person is then responsible for cooking the turkey, slicing the cake, setting the table or cooking the vegetables.

There is no need to stress out over the Christmas Day meal. Get yourself going with these five tips so the work is easy to manage.

The holiday season is usually happiest for the participants and not the host or hostess. But, you can change that this year. When you feel the tenseness creeping up your body:

1. Practice breathing exercises. You’d be amazed how much this works. The brain needs oxygen; in fact it needs 20% more oxygen than the rest of your body. Deep breathing increases the flow of oxygen to the brain, allowing you to think more clearly. That seating arrangement problem for Thanksgiving dinner will seem to solve itself.

2. Designate a place to be your sanctuary. This is a good idea to get prepared before the holidays begin. It can be outside or inside so long as you can retreat there quickly when you need a moment to yourself. Fill the area with a candle, music player, a book and somewhere comfortable to sit. If you begin your holiday mornings here, the day may not seem so daunting after all.

3. Enjoy the great outdoors. Get out of the kitchen and away from holiday plans with a brisk winter walk. The cool, crisp air and exercise will give you time to clear your head. Take along a family member or two and catch up on old times. The holidays are for you to share in and have fun, too.

4. Make lots of lists. Lists seem to be highly underrated these days. A list gets things off your mind and in another location. On a piece of paper, you can delegate to others so that all the work doesn’t fall on you. Before everything gets rolling, create a list of chores, grocery store items, seating charts and anything else you can think of. Post them on the fridge or a cork board in the kitchen where you can check off tasks as they get done.

5. Watch a funny movie. Laughter truly is the best medicine. It increases the level of endorphins in the brain to create a feeling of calm in your life. De-stress the entire family by asking them to join you and your bowl of popcorn.

We often overtax ourselves during the holidays in an attempt to make things special for our loved ones. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, don’t forget about yourself and your enjoyment. Use these ideas to lessen the stress on yourself and get into the spirit of the season with your family members.

Christmas means a joyful time of year, having fun with your family, spending time with your family, seeing all the beautiful lights, decorating the tree, eating all the food you can eat, celebrating the birth of Jesus and buying presents for other people. Traditionally, this is what Christmas means for all.

It is the season during which Christians everywhere give thanks to God the Father for the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is the church’s celebration of the Incarnation, the supreme mystery that the holy and almighty God took on human flesh and was born in this world of the Virgin Mary.

A Christmas tree is the heart of Christmas celebration. Trees seem to have originated in medieval Germany and were used for a long period of time before we began to decorate them. Decorating any Christmas tree is a fun way to celebrate the holiday.

Trees are very important and have been worshiped before writing because of their symbiotic relationship with EVERYTHING around them. Christmas trees have been decorated since their origin in the 16th century Europe, first with edible treats.

Some of the items with which the first Christmas trees were decorated are: paper roses, apples, Communion wafers, gold, foil, sweets, and dolls. The strong limbs of the tree gracefully support your favorite ornaments and in ancient times, decorations that had been placed on the pyramids were transferred to the Christmas tree.

Christmas trees, Santa Claus, decorations, exchanging gifts, and the many other seasonal traditions that most of us observe are wonderful ways for family and friends to mark this time of year.

Christmas means that time of year When all is filled with love and cheer and when there is peace on earth in honor of our Savior’s Birth. Christmas means not sin or greed; we should give more than we receive.

This holiday means both joy and love, both here on earth, and in heaven above. It means in one accord, ‘Let us all praise Christ the Lord.’ Christmas means giving happiness to others and allowing happiness to be given to you.

The season means a great many things to a great many people and it should not be forgotten that it is not just the presents that makes Christmas; it’s all the love in your heart on Christmas and spending time with your family.

Christmas means something different to everyone and the respect we show our fellow man during this time of year shows each and every one of us just what type of person we truly are.

Christmas means peace, love, and family togetherness for some. For many it is a time to celebrate peace and good will toward men. Christmas means family, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Christmas is such a wonderful holiday and many people enjoy listening to Christmas music in celebration of this season. Music is so spiritual that it easily becomes a part of the celebration of Christmas spirit. Ultimately, it is a celebration of love and is what Christmas should mean for all.

About the Author
Jackie Spivey is the Author of this Article. He is an artist who has a very creative, eclectic collection of music that is available for your listening pleasure. You can listen to and/or download the song, I’m So Glad It’s Christmas at JacSan Records.

One way to take the stress out of the holidays is to plan for them. These simple steps can help the ADD adult manage their time and tasks during the holiday season, thereby relieving unnecessary stress.

Create one hour this week to plan your holiday preparation schedule, and follow these steps:

Step 1 – Make a List of all the Things You Need to Do to Prepare for the Holiday

This probably includes gift shopping, writing and mailing holiday cards, decorating your home, planning your travel, etc. After you have made this list, put a star next to each of the items that you don’t like to do. (Maybe you get bored writing out the holiday cards, or maybe you detest shopping.)

Step 2 – Use a Calendar or Planner

Use something that gives you ample space to write for each day. This could be a wall calendar, a daily planner, or planning software. Begin by writing in all your holiday appointments, such as parties and scheduled shopping trips. Next, write in all the other activities that you have going on during the month, like meetings and appointments. When you’re done, you should have a good idea of where your free time is.

Now, take a look at the items on your holiday to-do list that are not marked with a star, and schedule them in. Do you have a free evening next week in which you can write out your cards? Schedule it on your calendar! Do you have a free Saturday to get your shopping done? Schedule it on your calendar!

Step 3 – Make the Dreaded Tasks Easier

Take a look at all those tasks you marked with a star. These are the tasks that you hate to do for one reason or another. Take a moment to look at each one, and figure out how to make that task a little easier or more bearable. If you hate writing cards because it’s a tedious and boring task, you can make it easier on yourself by inviting a friend over to chat, catch up, and write out cards with you. Hate decorating? Perhaps you can buy a new CD you’ve been wanting and allow yourself to crank it up while you put up the holiday decorations.

Investing just a small amount of time in planning can save you from undue stress and overwhelm during this holiday season.

© Copyright 2004

About Author:

Jennifer Koretsky is an ADD Management Coach who helps adults learn how to manage their ADD and move forward in life. She offers individual and group coaching, workshops, and skill-building programs. Her work has been featured in various media, including The New York Times Magazine. Subscribe to Jennifer’s free email newsletter, The ADD Management Guide, by visiting http://www.ADDmanagement.com/e-newsletter.htm

jennifer@addmanagement.com

Maintain a healthy lifestyle (eat healthy and engage in regular exercise).
Your days may be filled with activities during the holiday season but that doesn’t mean that you can forego your usual, healthy lifestyle just because you become busier. Maintain a balanced diet and keep your exercise routine no matter how busy you are. Stress level can increase dramatically if eating habits and regular exercise are replaced by holiday activities. If you are not eating healthy foods and are not engaged in any exercise program, this is also a good time to start. Eating healthy foods reduce stress and help you feel and look better. Any exercise activity from as simple as brisk walking to a total body workout can combat health problems caused by additional activities for the holiday season.

Learn to say no
Though it is nice to do someone a favor, learning when to say no will not hurt at all. Believe it or not, people will understand if you decline to take on a certain task if you cannot do it at all.

Save money
During this hard and testing times, money, or the lack of it can cause a lot of stress. Look for different ways on dealing with this unnecessary stress such as looking for cheaper gifts, buying lesser gifts, making homemade gifts, reusing old decorations, and spending less on food. Whatever is needed to make the ends meet will be a big help.

Be positive and plan ahead
Stress is a negative state of mind, thus, fighting stress can be as simple as fighting negative thoughts. Do not entertain negative attitudes nor succumb to the stress that is presented by the current task. Finish one task at a time. Write down the things that you want to accomplish for a certain time period. A checklist will help you keep on track. The more organized you are, the less stressful it will be.

Seek help, professional help
Seasonal stress can have mild effects on a person but if you are plagued with symptoms such as anxiety, hopelessness, physical complaints, irritability, difficulty in breathing, eating and sleeping, than it is time to give the task to other person or if necessary, get a professional help.

The holiday season is officially here, and with it can come added stress. Chair massage is a fast and affordable way to alleviate stress and keep you in good spirits. Many people have high expectations for the holidays-we want to give the perfect gift, or host a wonderful party or dinner. Many families are traveling a long distance or are having guests stay with them. The pressure we put on ourselves to please friends and family can create tension and anxiety, making the holidays less enjoyable. Taking a short time out with a chair massage can release tension, improve mood, reduce aches and pains and help you to regain your stamina.

Taking a break in the midst of holiday planning and events may seem like a difficult or even impossible task. There are more errands to run, more treats to bake, more presents to buy, and very little time to accomplish it all. However, just 15 minutes with a chair massage therapist can provide valuable physical and emotional benefits that can make all the difference. A chair massage is performed in a relaxing setting and can be combined with aromatherapy to enhance the positive effects. The chair massage therapist concentrates on the upper body and back, working out the kinks and improving the body’s circulation. Massage has also been shown to aid immune system function, which can help you to fight off nasty winter colds.

With the economy faltering, and added holiday expenses, a chair massage might seem like a luxury that just isn’t in the budget. However, for the cost comparable to a bottle of wine or a night at the movies, you can receive the healing benefits of therapeutic massage. Chair massages are very affordable, often priced around a dollar per minute. The sessions last between 15 and 20 minutes, which allows clients to receive the benefits of massage therapy at a fraction of the cost of a traditional massage. Office parties are a wonderful way to introduce employees to the rejuvenating benefits of office massage. And, instead of buying gift cards for those on your list who seem to have everything, why not treat them to an enjoyable and relaxing chair massage?

Brandon Thomas is a nationally certified massage therapist and founder
of JoyLife Therapeutics. JoyLife Therapeutics provides chair massage,
corporate massage, office massage, special event and trade show massage
throughout the US.

The holiday season is notorious for being the most stressful time of the year. In addition to the demands of regular life, we have shopping, wrapping, decorating, cooking, school plays, parties, menu planning, in-laws… and did I mention it’s the most stressful time of the year?

Unfortunately, a stressful holiday is simply not enjoyable. If you’ve ever been there (and honestly, who hasn’t?), you’re familiar with that silent promise: next year, I’ll do it differently.
Aside from renting a remote cabin, there’s only one way to ensure a low-stress holiday season: have a strategy in place to keep it all manageable. Here are five easy ways to minimize the stress of the holiday season:

Strategy #1: Do what you love and delegate the rest - Time is short. Don’t waste it on drudgery! If you don’t have the heart to put the tree up, don’t put the tree up. A beautiful bouquet or a candle arrangement can spread just as much cheer. Ask others to help you get things done; the neighbor’s teenage daughter would probably love to wrap your gifts for a very reasonable fee. You don’t need to do it all yourself. The key is to get organized ahead of time… plan to ask for help.

Strategy #2: Shop online – As much as possible, avoid the long lines at the post office, shopping malls, even grocery stores. Not only is online shopping faster and easier, but you can completely avoid the traffic and crowds that just take all the fun out of the holiday season. If you can, order several gifts from the same company, and make use of the gift wrap option when you check out. For those hard-to-buy-for people on your list, here are some suggestions: wine (maybe a wine-of-the-month club); gift baskets of foods, desserts, or personality-related themes; magazine subscriptions such as National Geographic; tickets to an event such as a concert or live performance; flowers; books; gourmet foods; and restaurant gift certificates.

Strategy #3: Stick with your exercise routine – When we get busy, it’s often the first thing to go. But exercise is absolutely critical to stress management! Now more than ever, you need those feel-good hormones and all the extra oxygen, so make a commitment before the winter crush that you’ll always make time for at least a few minutes of exercise every day. Come January (and those New Year’s resolutions), you’ll be glad you did.

Strategy #4: Get Creative! - Whether you get the urge to build a snowman or decorate a cookie, let yourself play a little. Arrange some flowers, paint a greeting card, whatever calls you. Your enthusiasm for life will get a boost and your tension will just evaporate.

Strategy #5: Make time to enjoy the season – The best stress-management strategies in the world aren’t worth a snowflake unless you slow down enough to savor the season in quiet peaceful ways, like taking a walk to enjoy the Christmas lights and listening to Christmas music in front of the fire. Make time to just sit, and breathe, and just be… and enjoy!

Margaret Page, founder of Beyond the Page Coaching Ltd., is passionate about helping successful professionals achieve their highest vision of success. With over 30 years as an entrepreneur and business leader, Margaret has helped countless professionals find focus, build efficiency, and eliminate overwhelm. Guided by her personal mission to inspire, encourage and motivate, she empowers people with the resources, tools and understanding they need to achieve extraordinary results in record time. As the head of Etiquette Page Enterprises, Margaret is also a recognized expert in business etiquette and international protocol. As a dynamic trainer, Margaret conducts inspiring programs and private consultations, with customized sessions that address each person’s individual needs.For information about Margaret’s coaching program, or to sign up for her newsletter, “A Page of Insight,” please visit her online.