Stress Busters for the Christmas Holidays

Just saying the word stress is stressful!

If you are anything like me, you homeschool your children, decorate your home, purchase presents and make a holiday meal. We have to eat, right? Some of you are involved in children ministries, sing in a choir or perhaps are in charge of one or more holiday activities outside of your normal day-to-day schedule.

Through the years I’ve come up with fabulous ideas to tackle my holiday to-do list. I’ve had planning lists, guest lists, buying lists, baking lists and even gift-making lists. I’ve made Christmas presents in the summer to avoid overload, baked and frozen meals ready to go for the holidays and enjoyed camping the first week of December with family and friends, instead of going on the mad dash of holiday buying. However, all of that takes work and planning.

Here’s my question: “What is important to you and your spouse?”

Notice I didn’t say your in-laws, your kids, or your friends and neighbors?

I’ve learned many things along the way of homeschooling and the holidays. Stress is a state of mind and having a back-up plan or two really helps!

Stress Buster Seminar

I’ve created a seminar on the topic that I presented at the Ultimate Homeschool Expo, an event I host. This session was for the Homeschooling & the Holidays. I’ve included a copy, right here for you to enjoy.

{If you don’t see the audio player below, please click here: Stress Busters for the Christmas Holidays.}

Stress Buster Tip: You are an adult, it is your life and you can make whatever decisions you want! Yes, it’s that easy.

If your holiday is going to be filled with stress, who are you doing it for?

The kids? No, they won’t enjoy a frazzled mama. Your hubby? No, he’d rather have a wife who is happy and excited when he gets home. Your immediate family is the most important and your extended family will hopefully understand or pitch in to help if you have family obligations that won’t go away.

Here are my stress buster ideas in a nutshell:

1. Plan with Prayer

If you’ve prayed for help with your plan, God will provide
Be sure you write your list in pencil, it’s okay to erase or cross out.

2. Adult Privileges

Just Say No
What season are you in?

3. Mommy Time-Out

Take a break
One minute-eyes closed time with God

4. Revive Your Soul

Do the one thing
Play music, sing, dance – enjoy your life!

5. Gift-Giving Short Cuts

Time instead of resources
Community Party

6. Back-Up Plan

Cross something off the list (it’s okay, I promise!)
Regroup and enlist help

7. The Reason for the Season Attitude Check

Write it out—say it aloud—be sure you know
Check your attitude

8. Permission Granted

This is not the time to diet!
Enjoy something for you.

9. Affirmations

Repeat after me:

You are amazing
You are special
You are a child of God
You are unique
You are here for a GOD given purpose

Enjoy the little things…

Sip hot-chocolate, read a good book and give gifts of the heart which are memories that last a lifetime. My five kids are ages 31-12 and their best memories are those of time spent together, not the iPhone and the electronic games. Remember that as you plan your holidays!

Please share your favorite stress busters with me!

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Felice Gerwitz is a wife, and mother to five, who loves the Lord. She is happiest when baking, and surrounded by family and friends. When not cooking up new ideas, she designs curriculum and loves hosting events like the monthly Mommy Jammies Nights live online. She is a serial entrepreneur, an author and publisher at MediaAngels.com& host of Ultimate Homeschool Expo.

Eight of Felice’s titles were selected for inclusion in both of Cathy Duffy’s Books: Top 100 and the newest book, Top 101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum. Felice has homeschooled since 1986 and loves mentoring moms throughout the world with her online events.

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Thanks to UltimateHomeschoolExpo.com for sponsoring the Keeping Christ in Christmas series on Life by Ashley Pichea during December 2012. Be sure to check out the latest expo, Homeschooling & the Holidays, for joyful holidays and stress buster solutions!