by Kimberly Mayo-Achan MA, CCC-SLP

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…or at least that’s how the song goes! For many of us, while the holidays may be fun, festive and joyous, they can also be very stressful. The long lines in the stores, worrying about giving the perfect gift, getting all of the decorations up on time, and of course, cooking and over eating can all contribute to the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Take a minute to yourself, read this article, and re-strategize your holiday headaches!

First and foremost, get organized! Before you do any shopping or any decorating, sit down and write a long list of what needs to get done and what gifts need to be bought. This will serve two main purposes. First, it will provide you with a concise visual of what needs to get done and will allow you to make a functional plan of how and when to get everything accomplished. Put a calendar next to you and pencil in your activities. Second, it will lessen your chances of wondering around aimlessly in store after store, spending valuable time and money on items you would not have otherwise purchased. If you are not sure what to get someone, a gift card to a store of their liking with a well written holiday greeting card is often appreciated. Websites such as redenvelope.com also offer an array of personal gifts for everyone on your list.

If you are doing the holiday cooking, make a list of all of the dishes you plan to make along with the ingredients for each meal. Look into a home delivery grocery service, such as peapod from Stop and Shop, and this will save you time, aggravation and a bad back, by not having to haul in numerous heavy bags. It will also help keep money in your wallet by not allowing you to play supermarket sweep and fill your shopping cart up with unnecessary items for your home. Many home delivery services, such as peapod, are offering $15.00 off for first time customers.

Contrary to what people may think, there is no rush, race or competition to have all of your decorations up by a certain date. Sure, they look beautiful, but it’s ok if you give yourself a couple of days to get it all done. If you are putting up a Christmas tree, try having the tree up the day before you decorate. This will allow you to enjoy placing your special ornaments without the stress of maneuvering your tree. If you don’t have a tree in your home, consider taking some of your ornaments and decorate that lonely tree in front of your house. Do your outdoor decorating during the day and dress accordingly. Have your kids, spouse, neighbors or friends lend a hand.

Understand that food is a very important part of the holidays; there is no avoiding it! The smell of gingerbread cookies, stuffing with gravy, potato pancakes or a fresh turkey is enough to make any mouth water. Set realistic expectations for yourself. Drink plenty of water during the day and have a light snack before you attend a holiday party. When you make yourself a plate, walk away from the buffet or main source of food. Take a few bites of everything on your plate to satisfy your palate. Indulging in smaller portions of what you are craving will decrease the likelihood of binge eating later on. When you are finished eating, take a walk over to some of your neighbors homes and deliver some fresh baked desserts or a nice holiday bouquet. This will help spread some holiday cheer while shedding those excess calories you ingested when eating grandma’s apple pie. If it’s too cold or rainy to walk outside, get out your favorite holiday tunes and dance away that ham and sweet potato pie! Also, choose your beverages wisely. Remember that just because it’s liquid doesn’t mean it’s not full of empty calories! In one cup of egg nog there are 343 calories and 19 grams of fat! Try swapping the egg nog for a home made hot chocolate, which has 1/3 the calories! For more “eat this, not that!” ideas, check out the following website:http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100247658.

Finally, remember not to over schedule yourself. Don’t wear yourself out. It’s never easy when you have to get to your uncle’s house by 1, your best friends house by 5, your business holiday party by 7 and then host more family at your house the following day. Make plans that you are able to realistically adhere to. Plan ahead as much as your can. Take 15 minutes a day for yourself. And remember, have fun! This time only comes but once a year! ‘Tis the season.