HAPPY HOLIDAY TIPS

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            HAPPY HOLIDAY TIP # 1: Count Your Blessings – Literally: Number a sheet of paper from 1 to 10. Challenge yourself to write at least10 things you’re grateful for. This is not just for Thanksgiving Day. Giving thanks, even for the “little” things can lead to big benefits. A UCLA study shows that regular gratitude helps us feel better. Participants who consciously counted their blessings and wrote them down once a week, boosted their life satisfaction over a period of six weeks, compared with a control group that kept no journals and showed no gain. So, how about using Thanksgiving as a the start of your new weekly habit of counting your blessings?!  For more tips, visit:  www.LaurenHudson.com

             HAPPY HOLIDAY TIP # 2:  Be Creatively Cheap:  The holidays seem to be the season for spending.  Though, many of us tend to go way overboard when it comes to shopping.  And, no amount of shopping is worth the agony of knowing you have spent too much money.  But, there are ways to shop without “shopper’s remorse.”

           Try being what I call “creatively cheap.”  Challenge yourself to find the BEST / CHEAPEST gift you can.  What if you make a discount store, like your local “Dollar Store” a primary destination for holiday shopping?   I guess my secret is out -because I love finding deals at the dollar store.  It can be a great place for kitchen towel sets, coffee cups, or bath gels.  Scented candles and potpourri can be fine gifts for some people. 

            Set a small ($10 or $20) gift limit with family and friends.  We did this one year and got some memorable gifts. I will never forget the green and red candles and gingerbread house candleholder my son bought me.  And, the CD rack my daughter gave me.  My toddler loved the snow globe I got him for just a dollar.  This year one of the gifts I’m giving are these wooden animals I found during the year and just know they will love.  I save money – they get a great gift.  To me, that makes for HAPPY SHOPPING!

          HAPPY HOLIDAY TIP #3 - KISS – KISS – KISS:   I was in the grocery store the day before Thanksgiving and my mind just started spinning.  I was thinking about all of the things I wanted to buy for the big meal I planned to cook - then I was trying to decide how I was going to spend the day - then I thought about having to clean my house - then I started to think about work - whew!   I felt myself getting stressed out and overwhelmed.  The pressure of the holidays was building up already! 

          I'm glad I caught it early and remembered one of the most important Happy Holiday secrets.....“Keep It Simple Sweetie.”  In short, “KISS.” Keep your holidays as simple as possible to avoid being overwhelmed.  If your ‘to-do’ list is longer than your budget or time, then cut it in half.   Or, decide the top five things you would like to see happen for a happy holiday.  After that, everything else is extra.  Remember to Pace yourself, Prioritize, and have Peace in everything you do.  As for me, I narrowed down the number of dishes that I was going to cook and delegated some of the cooking duties to others.  And no, I did not clean as thoroughly as I could have.  Aaaaah!  It worked.  Being stressed out or unhappy is not the holiday memory I want to have.  KISS KISS!  (Check back for more)

          HAPPY HOLIDAY TIP #4:  Join the Cheer:   I’ll admit I don’t always feel like getting dressed up and going out to big holiday parties where I don’t know half the people.  Have you ever felt that way?  What’s interesting is that once you get there, you usually realize, ‘it’s not that bad.  Maybe I could even enjoy myself for a little while.’ 

           Just being around people can be the greatest part of holiday fun.  After all, studies show that socializing is one of the top ways to get happy.  So, don’t spend most of your time alone.  There are lots of fun things going on, and lots of good people to be around. 

          Don’t know what’s going on?  You soon can.  There are many ways to find out the happenings by looking in local magazines / newspapers or searching on-line.  Look for charity events to volunteer for or to attend.  See what local communities, churches, organizations are planning.  Maybe just stop by at listen to the carolers at the mall.  Enjoy the opportunity to be around other people who also want to have a good time.  Ask friends, colleagues and neighbors what they’re doing, you might get some fun ideas.  Then, make sure you attend at least one holiday event or gathering to help enjoy the spirit of the season.      

          Happy Holidays - Lauren

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