6 ways to de-stress your holiday season

The holiday season is such a special time of year. Cooler (or freezing cold) weather brings us inside to cozy up with our loved ones. Holiday get-togethers allow us the opportunity to catch up with colleagues and friends. Yes, December brings joy and excitement, but it can also bring stress!! Shopping can be overwhelming due to time and money constraints. Gifts (wanted and unwanted) pile up under the tree. What do you do with all the stuff that you acquire? Here are 6 quick ways to reduce the stress of the holidays:

1. Give the gift of memories. Whether it's tickets to a show, a nice dinner out, a trip to an amusement park, or a vacation, spending time with loved ones is something they will remember longer than a new sweater.  
2. Toys, toys, toys... So many toys. With each new toy, donate or recycle an old one. You may need to do this in the evening while the kids are asleep. Since I began toy-purging, my daughters haven't noticed one missing toy. Donate books that the kids have outgrown, and recycle toys that are broken or have missing parts. 
3. Take the money you would have spent and donate it to a good cause in someone’s name. Donate to a specific charity if they are passionate about a certain cause. It feels good to help make the world a better place. 
4. Secret Santa! Instead of giving to every single cousin, niece & nephew, do a drawing. I think the entire family would appreciate this one!! 
5. Create a spreadsheet with everyone on your shopping list. Determine how much you want to spend and weight it by person. This will tell you how much you can budget for each person. Keep track of what you buy, how much you spend, and whether your online purchases have been received. This is also handy tool that keeps you from buying someone the same gift two years in a row. Having an organizational system can keep you from stressing out over how much you've spent. 
6. Put down your electronics and spend quality time with each other. It's so easy to look at your phone a thousand times a day. And if you have kids, get down on the floor and play with them. After all, that's what they want most. 

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday!
-Katie