It's hard to believe that the first week of December is nearly done! Where does the time go? This month, we will be keeping things a light and relaxed on our blog, and taking bit of a breather from "employee benefits-info" blog posts.

Stressed about the holidays? 

This time of year, while wonderful, magical and beautiful, tends to be the most stressful time of year for many people.  From decorating, commitments for holiday parties, shopping, and family dinners, it can feel a little overwhelming trying to keep up with everything. With the busy holiday season kicking right into gear, we've decided to post a few tips early in the month that might help alleviate some of the stress this month.

Know When to Stop

Decide when you will stop your holiday preparations and start to enjoy the time of year and relax.  Work towards and try to stick to this goal, even if you're working all the way into late afternoon on Christmas Eve. Remember, while you may want to make it easy and happy for everyone else and be a perfect host/ess, don't forget - it's your holiday too.

Have an 'Escape' Plan!

Have some pre-planned excuses to escape from proceedings if they get too stressful for you.  Try a phone-call to a friend or check on a neighbour. Just planning a couple of escape routes may help you feel in control,  but actually leaving the situation, even for 10 minutes, will help relax you.

Remember to Unwind

OK, this one is really hard, and if you can actually do this, you probably don’t need any advice!  Learn to say no to the invitations which aren’t high on your priority list.  Schedule a quiet day every so often. Before your calendar fills up, make an appointment for your haircut or other personal care needs.  If a Christmas lunch with a friend or special family member is high on your wish list, get it scheduled.

Keep Universal Gifts on Hand

Chances are you'll need some last-minute gifts, either for an unannounced guest or for friends who extend 11th-hour invitations. Stock up on a few items that would appeal to almost everyone. Make sure that you yourself like these gifts too, because that way, if you haven't distributed all of them come January, you get to be the beneficiary. No sense in buying something you yourself wouldn't want or use. Several jars of locally made preserves are good to have on hand, as are beautifully wrapped soaps, lovely napkins and candles, or special bottles of wine.

Next week we are going to post some very quick and simple-to-make baking recipes that you might want to try out. Until then, enjoy the holiday sights, smells, and sounds that are around you this month.