For many families, the Christmas season is the most wonderful time of the year. But, the high expectations that come along with the holidays can lead to stress, depression or disappointment. With so many things that we need to get done in order to spread holiday cheer, it can be pretty easy to get overwhelmed. Here are a few things you can do to keep yourself feeling merry and mellow this Christmas.

Get Started Early

It’s never too early to start getting ready for next Christmas. Always keep an eye out for festive decorations or the perfect Christmas card while you’re out shopping. Not only will this give you less to worry about when Christmas is just around the corner, but buying holiday supplies off-season can also save you money. If the family Christmas festivities are going to be held at your house this year, start preparing weeks or even months ahead. Continue reading →

From the toy aisle to the Christmas dinner table, the holiday season is full of “no’s.” It’s important to be able to say no when it comes to things that you can’t do (or even don’t want to do).

However, the high expectations of the holiday season makes saying no to friends, family, or even complete strangers very difficult. After all, everyone knows that Christmas is all about giving.

Don’t be afraid of coming across like a Grinch, though. Here are some tips on saying no – even at Christmas: Continue reading →

The Christmas season is a festive time filled with family, friends and goodwill. Of course, it’s also a time of high expectations and confrontation.

Every member of the family is typically expecting wonderful things to occur, and they’re likely to get vocal if they don’t think things are turning out as perfectly as they envisioned.

Even the most cheerful family isn’t likely to make it through the holiday season without an argument breaking out. But, keeping tempers from flaring can be as easy as being calm and knowing what to say to diffuse the situation. Read on for some tips on how to respond when you hear… Continue reading →