If you’re starting to feel the pressure of purchasing the perfect gifts while throwing the most amazing dinner or just how you are going to get your family packed and off to visit the relatives during the worst traffic or most congested airports, you are not alone. Life in my household is about to hit 100MPH and there’s no looking back (at least not until I finish the photo album sometime around March). As I brace myself for warp speed ahead, Life Coach Lori Radun of Momnificent gave Breezy Mama her tips for keeping chill during the time of Frosty and friends. Plus, comedian Valerie Peterson’s solutions.
From Lori:
5. Be More Mindful and Plan Accordingly: Stop procrastinating and start early. You could be done with your holiday shopping and planning by December 1st, giving you time to enjoy the holidays.
4. Simplify: It’s okay to say no to extravagance – less gifts, less decorating, less food, less parties.
3. Let Go of Perfection: Perfectly wrapped gifts will be ripped open in minutes. A perfectly prepared meal will be devoured without notice to all the details. Relax and enjoy the moment.
2. Be Wary of Unnecessary People Pleasing: Use healthy boundaries to manage not only the expectations of family and friends, but your internal expectations as well. Concentrate on what’s best for you and your immediate family, and then politely disengage from unrealistic expectations that cause unneeded stress.
1. Nix the Wonder Woman Costume: The holidays are not the time for your Halloween costume. Let go of the attitude that says you have to do everything yourself. Have a potluck for Thanksgiving dinner. Let someone else wrap the gifts. Asking for help will reduce holiday stress.
About Lori
Lori is a life coach, inspirational speaker and guru to conscious mothers everywhere. Her mission is to provide simple tools to help moms raise their energy, raise their morale, and raise their consciousness while raising great kids. She believes that a grounded and happy mom will strengthen any family unit, and ultimately lay the groundwork for future generations.
Eager to give mothers encouragement and support on their motherhood journeys, Lori founded Momnificent! where moms can go for expert advice, coaching and information on topics facing moms today. In her book, The Momnificent! Life – Healthy and Balanced Living for Busy Moms (click here to purchase), Lori’s openness and conversational style gives moms the feeling they’re sharing “Aha!” moments with a friend while they’re learning to live more fulfilling lives. Lori is the mother of two wonderful boys, the wife of a very supportive husband and a lover of books, chocolate and Tae Kwon Do!
Still feeling stressed? Comedian Valerie Peterson calls herself a “therapeutic concoctionist” (i.e. she develops cocktail recipes!). From fighting over the last “it” toy at the mall to dealing with the children being home from school, she provides a tongue-in-cheek cocktail antidote for each stress.
From Valerie– the situations you may find yourself in this holiday season and the drink she feels goes with it:
- Heading home for the holidays stuffed into a coach-class center seat? Fly the skies in a friendlier fashion with Whatever Gets You Through the Woods, prepared with $10 of onboard liquor and other ingredients handily available from your cooperative flight attendant.
- Run out of transparent tape with twenty-seven more presents to wrap? Hold yourself together with a Double-Stick Scotch Coffee, made with Drambuie, butterscotch schnapps, and piping-hot coffee.
- Memories of Christmases Past have you wishing you could change a few things (your choice of an ex-husband or your high-school hairstyle, perhaps)? Skip the ghastly recollections and go right for the spirits with a citrus-and-spice-infused Dickensian Smoking Bishop.
Want more laughs and the recipes for the drinks she mentions and more? Buy her book Peterson’s Holiday Helper (click here). Better yet — win it! Leave a comment to be entered to win an autographed copy! Contest ends at midnight tonight and I will email the winner in the morning. NOTE: Contest has ended.
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Breezy Tip: To avoid having your kids screaming while you wait in uber long lines, get your holiday shopping done on Amazon.com. After you reach $25, shipping is free and gifts are delivered to your door. Or ship it to the person you are giving it to and avoid the post office bustle. Start your stress free shopping by clicking here!
Need holiday cash you can earn from home? Check today’s available hand-screened jobs — click here.
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OMG…this sounds hilarious and right up my crazy lifestyle way! I am thinking, like the book Belly Laughs, this would be one of those books that gets passed along and signed off on the inside cover after reading, between all of my girlfriends!
I think I am going to have to look into Lori’s book too…need some of those calming “ok you dont have to do it all” comments to keep me grounded for the holidays
Great tips! Need all the help I can get this time of year.
I am not afraid of a little help! Sign me up! Thanks for the great starter tips, I feel calmer already!
I have visions of semi stress free holidays (hey, I have 5 kids) Thanks for the tips
My six year old daughter and I visited Target today which is already “decked” for Christmas. She took one look at the store and said,”Christmas? We still have a holiday to get through before Christmas, people!”. It is kind of sad that even a 6 year old sees how ridiculous it all is! I feel behind the eight-ball and is is the beginning of November!
Oh that is definelty how I am feeling right now. Those are some great ideas. But my choice of stress medicine is Bailey’s…. Love the tips.
That was just what I needed. Its Amazing how every year we women during the time of novemeber we go from nice calm human’s to these fast paced loonies that will die if we don’t get the “it ” present of the day. it seems this year they are starting the sales and so much earlier here in florida. When you live on a budget on top ofChristmas you pray you’ll have enough strength let alone presents to get through it. I loved the tips keep them coming at this point in my life your tips were better then more morning coffee and that my friend says alot thank you.