Top 7 Ways to Keep the Happy in the Holidays
By GalTime .com. Posted on .
By Consumer Savings Expert from Coupons.com, Jeanette Pavini, for GalTime.com
How to stay happy this holiday season
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The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy and good cheer, but for many of us the season brings its share of high stress. The good news is that it doesn't have to be that way. Say "bah humbug" to the holiday blues with these seven simple ways to keep the happy in your holidays!
1. Establish clear gift giving guidelines. When organizing a gift exchange, establish a price limit. While money talk might feel uncomfortable, giving is sure to be more enjoyable when you know that the gift you'll be giving and the gift you'll be receiving are within a comparable price range. Shopping can be stressful enough without having to worry whether your gift is too big or too small!
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2. Downscale your holiday party. You want to be able to enjoy your guests, not be tied to the kitchen the whole night! Serve dishes that can be assembled ahead of time that only require heating in the oven. Consider throwing a potluck where each guest brings a dish. Another fun and festive idea involves an appetizer, or dessert and cocktail party. Save money on hosting your holiday party by purchasing items on sale and using coupons.
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3. Stay healthy during the holidays. In 2000, the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development did a study that determined we only gain about a pound during the holiday season. That doesn’t sound so bad, but here’s the catch, that weight tends to stick around and accumulate through the years. So in order to stay healthy and happy during the holidays, don’t use celebrating as an excuse to slack on your exercise routine. Try to exercise the day of holiday parties, get those endorphins moving and you may be more likely to decline that second slice of pie. Indulge in moderation; eat one holiday cookie to appease the baker, but stop there, and fill at least half of your plate with vegetables before moving on to the other dishes.
4. Slow down. Between decorating, shopping, baking, cooking, wrapping, traveling, and entertaining, it can be easy to go through the motions of the holidays without ever actually stopping to enjoy them. Take a moment to think about activities that will force you to stop, breathe and enjoy the sights and sounds of the holidays. Take a walk around your neighborhood to look at Christmas lights, cozy up next to the tree with a cup of hot chocolate, host a gift-wrapping party with your friends, or play holiday music while you bake.
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