Holidays, Smolidays.  The whole holiday season has the potential to be about attitude, lack of time, and often spending money you don’t have on gifts may not feels as though they are appreciated.

Isn’t it good that we learn about the holidays as children?  It helps us to know what is possible about the holidays:  love, delicious smells, secrets, newness, old traditions, our extended family, being good, learning to share … and more.  As kids, we anticipate the events and what we will get as presents.  Hanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, all have gifts and time spent with people associated with their traditions.  Each one of us can name a special magical memory from our childhood that relates to the holiday season. 

Then we grow up and add stress, attitude, resentment, judgment, and general malaise to the holiday season. 

Oh, and don’t forget all the money we spend on food and presents that feel as though they aren't appreciated…not one bit…doggone people: mother, brother, sister, boss, wife, husband ….blah blah blah. 

Your question might be “where did the delight go?”  Where did your sweet anticipation go?  

Every year the holidays show up at this time of year.  It is not a surprise.  So why the attitude of glum and “here we go again”?  And for heavens sakes, why are you even considering maxing your credit card on gifts that give you little to no pleasure to give????? 

Stress.  Your self-induced annual holiday stress is staring you right in your face.  Lets see how you can begin to change your approach and thinking so this kind of stress never has to happen again… 

Here are absolutely guaranteed stress reducing ideas.  You might have even heard some of them before, but this time you can pay attention.  Why?  Cause it can be different this year and for all the years to come.  And, you also deserve the childlike and simple sweet anticipation of what use to be the best time of year for you or anyone you know. 

Let me share what I’ve discovered from people just like you who have shared all their stress stories and who have begun to develop their own internal plan for taking the Smolidays and turning them back into their Holidays. 

Many of these suggestions come from my co-authored book “Give Stress a Rest” that can be purchased at: http://www.nataliemanor.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=16.  I got to write with several other stress experts who share their stress reducing and/or eliminating ideas with you. Some of the other suggestions come from my "Success without Stress" eBook with MP3 that can be purchased at: http://www.nataliemanor.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=44.  They also make great holiday gifts.  And they won’t break the bank. 

• Taking three deep breaths in ANY situation will help you to get control, relax and think more clearly.  
• Reassure yourself.  Take care of you.  Just stop and sit.  You do have time to take care of you.  5 minutes will provide hours of a refreshed feeling of control and you might even get to joy.  Remember to breath too.
• Let the kids help wrap the presents.  When my girls were little they wrapped all the presents which ended up being pretty interesting.  I never ever re-wrapped a present.  People love them just they way they receive them.  Be sure to buy extra tape – kids use lots during the gift wrapping process.
• Just say no to extra stuff that you don’t want to do or would force you to feel more rushed than you already do.  “Thanks for your invitation.  I am delighted to be invited, but it just does fit our schedule right now.”  
• Sleep, sleep, sleep, nap, rest, close your eyes.  Do this early and often.  Say to yourself, “I will be in bed by _______ “ and then stick to it.  By the way, you will never ever finish your to do list, but with more sleep or rest, you won’t be as frustrated and irritated.  
• DO NOT go shopping or to the mall without a list.  Your tendency will be to buy too much.  Also, if you see something you like that you have to buy, take a break and review your list and see if that is true.  This rule also applies to shopping online too. 
• We are wrapping all presents with newspaper this year.  What you say?  Wrapping gifts with newspaper  will save all that bright wrapping paper that does not break down in the landfills for a long time and when it does it brings all the dyes of the paper to the soil.  You also won’t have to run out to the store late at night cause you ran out.  Putting live greens on the tops of presents instead of ribbons works great!  

So…..the holidays belong to you this year.  Remember the wonder of it all?  Well, it is back.  

January is going to come and your bills will be reasonable, you will enjoy the people in your life and you will have new memorable moments to recall in years to come.

Deep breath. 

My best to you and yours,

Natalie