Five Ways to Ease Holiday Stress to Stay #HappyAllTheWay #shop

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Although Christmas is a favorite time of year for many, let’s face it– it can also be a stressful time. Women everywhere who are already juggling jobs, households, husbands, and children are now expected to shop, bake, and pull off Pinterest worthy parties. Whew! I’m tired just thinking about it. Over the years since having kids, I’ve been forced to find ways to de-stress during the holiday season. Whether it’s utilizing holiday gift guides or list making, here are five ways that I’ve learned to ease holiday stress.

#1 Have a Party for Yourself

This might sound a bit strange, but let me explain. I often think of holiday-related tasks as things that I have to do. I have to wrap the presents, or I have to go shopping. It’s easy to get out of the mood of Christmas when it just appears to be making my to-do list longer. So I decided, “Everyone else is having parties, why can’t I have one for me?” I have a present-wrapping party. I get out all my presents, wrapping paper, scissors, and tape. I then lay out an appetizing spread for myself.

Yep, these goodies are all for me! Pre-made and ready to eat, Good & Delish products from Walgreens make it easy to through myself a little party for one. Since Walgreens is right around the corner, I can swing in and buy indulgent treats and snacks that are party ready.

Since my life is crazy busy, I utilize the Walgreens Happy & Healthy Holiday Guide to pick out the items that I want to buy before going to the store. There were several spreads that caught my eye in the guide, but the back page was definitely where I paused the most!

All the Good & Delish items can be found on their respective aisles in the store. I visited the cookie aisle first. See those blue tags under the items? Balance rewards members get points that add up to gain savings on future purchases!

As I eluded above, I’m a chocolate fan, and so I mainly purchased chocolate items. But I knew that I would want to pair my sweet tooth snacks with something spicy, so I bought the Good & Delish Frozen Chipotle Chicken Crostini. Talk about a delicious pairing! Party perfect!

I waited until the kids were in bed before setting up my spread and gift wrapping station. My personal party was a great way to reward myself for a job well done with gift wrapping, and I actually eagerly anticipated the task for once!

#2 Utilize Gift Guides

Gift guides are there for a reason. Save the brainpower for another day, and take advantage of gift guides for gift ideas, creative wrapping methods, and holiday appetizer and meal selection. The Walgreens Happy & Healthy Holiday Guide has all of the above, and it can be easily picked up at any Walgreens or viewed online.

#3 Plan Ahead

For me, one of the most stressful things is to realize at the last minute that I need a gift or a food item to take to a party. Now is a great item to start planning for those holiday get togethers. I’ve found that when I spend a few hours now running errands and pre-planning, it will often save me a day or two of stress or hassle in the coming weeks.

#4 Make Lists

My mind is filled with so much information this time of the year, that I’m bound to forget something! Can I get an “Amen!” Electronic lists and reminders just don’t do it for me. When I am doing Tip #3 (Plan Ahead), I sit down and make lists of the gifts that I need to buy and the food that I have to make. I’ll even share a little secret with you– if it’s written on a piece of paper, it’s also easy to remind the significant to help out, too! Click on the image below to grab a free prep list printable to get you started.

#5 Steer Clear of Overcommitment

Between parties and programs, I know that overcommitment it inevitable this time of the year. I give myself a free pass to let the little things go. It’s not the end of the world if I forget the batteries. No one will die if I go store bought rather than hand made. I make an effort to enjoy the spirit of the season and only participate in the activities that enables my family to do this.

So how do you ease holiday stress? I’d love to hear additional ideas!