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Avoid the Hectic-Schedule Blues
Don't get stressed out trying to do it all! Keep the purpose of the holidays in perspective. Find ways to weed out the unnecessary chores on your to-do list and instead find more time to spend enjoying the season.
Fake it, don't bake it!
If your vision of a picture-perfect holiday party is one of tables laden with homemade everything, scrap that idea, but not necessarily the picture-perfect aspect. You can have your cake and salvage some of your sanity. Take a minute to add up the hours you would have to spend baking and cooking to pull off this mammoth task. Instead, make one or two of your specialties, but for the rest of the menu, go down to your favourite bakery or your grocery store and choose from their offerings. Remove the store-bought food from their containers, arrange the savoury delights beautifully on your own holiday dishes, add some garnish, and voila! Instant party without the stress of burnt cookies, messes, and lost hours that you could have spent energizing yourself for your party.
If you absolutely detest the idea of not serving homemade baking, participate in a cookie exchange. Make one batch, but take home a variety of homemade goods.
Give yourself a time out
If you already feel the holiday stress creeping in, take a break and put things into perspective. The holidays are about joy, not perfection. You may not feel like you have the luxury of slowing down. However, do your body and mind some good and visit the spa, meditate, exercise — do whatever it takes to feel relaxed before you take on the mall or hosting duties. After all, a relaxed host can set the tone for everyone's mood.
Delegate
Don't feel that you alone need to prepare the much anticipated holiday feast. Take the pressure off yourself and start delegating. Even children love to help. Not only will you feel like you have things under control, everyone around you will get a sense of satisfaction knowing they were able to contribute.
Lower your standards and cut corners
The holidays are for getting together with loved ones and enjoying each other's company. All the other stuff that comes with it is just a bonus, not a necessity. Sure, clean the bathroom that company will be using, but chances are they won't be looking in the shower, so take care of that another day. A well-dressed table sets the stage for a delicious meal and happy conversation; however, if you haven't folded the napkins into fans or swans, it's not going to change anyone's opinion about the meal. Just remind yourself that napkins end up on your guests' laps within seconds of sitting down regardless of how they are folded. You get the picture — those little extras are nice to do, but only if you really have the time!
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