HO, HO, OH, NO!

HOW TO CURB YOUR STRESS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

The fast and furious pace of November and December is enough to drive even June Cleaver insane. From overwhelming family commitments to frenzied, last-minute shopping, the holiday season’s activities tend to generate more stress than good cheer. This year, don’t let them run you down. Read on for
THE FAMILY GROOVE’s holiday survival guide.

Avoid a Card Catastrophe
Dread sending out holiday cards to everyone and anyone you’ve ever met? Make your life easier and
cut down your list. Narrow recipients down to close friends and family who you know will send you cards.
Jot down a few generic notes for those surprise cards you’ll inevitably get from your college roommate’s sister’s ex-husband and so on and so on. Commit to writing a set number of cards a day—and stick to it. You’ll be finished with your list before you know it. Save precious time by printing address labels from your computer. If you’re sick of writing cards out every year, consider an online service such as www.cardsdirect.com that will help design and personalize cards for you.

Ditch Diet Downfalls
The holiday season tends to wreak havoc on your diet. Avoid holiday weight gain by fitting in exercise whenever you can. Go for an after-dinner walk or organize a backyard game of flag football with the family. Limit alcoholic beverages, and avoid piling your plate up for seconds—or thirds. Allow yourself a treat (or two!) that you wouldn’t normally eat during the year. For example, pass on the mashed potatoes, but cut yourself a piece of pumpkin pie. If you’re cooking, make healthier versions of your favorite dishes. Check out www.hungry-girl.com or www.cookinglight.com for tasty, diet-friendly swaps.

Be a One-Stop Shopper
Reduce shopping stress by setting a budget for your holiday spending. Make a list of everyone you need to buy gifts for and what you’d like to get them. Try to do the majority of your shopping online—it’s quick, easy, and you can avoid the crowds at the mall. Many sites offer free shipping during the holiday season. You may even be able to have gifts wrapped and sent directly to the recipient. Find coupons for box

your favorite stores at www.keycode.com or click here to check out THE FAMILY GROOVE’s very own shopper’s little helper page, complete with more than 30 coupons (like 20 percent off, free shipping and more) to the best online stores.

Gift certificates or cards are also easy options that take little effort. If you do have to brave the mall, shop at off-times—early morning or late at night—to avoid the crowds and the added stress. Enlist your kids to help wrap presents or offer the broke college student across the street a few extra bucks to wrap them for you.

Party Smarter
Instead of slaving in front of the stove for hours, turn your holiday party or dinner into a potluck. Save time and money by asking everyone to bring their favorite dish to contribute. Keep track of what everyone is bringing so you don’t end up with overlapping dishes. Hosting a big soiree? Consider an online invitation service such as www.evite.com to keep track of guests and RSVPs.

Rally the Troops
While you may not be able to convince your kids to clean the bathroom or mop the kitchen floor, you can assign kid-friendly tasks that might lesson your workload. Keeping your kids busy will also free up time for you to hit the ground running. Put your kids in charge of their individual bedrooms—making their beds, putting toys and books away, hanging up their clothes. Ask them to make place cards for the dinner table or help decorate the house for the festivities. Let them help in the kitchen—whether it’s cracking eggs for the cake mix or frosting holiday cupcakes. By including them in the fun holiday activities, they may be more apt to help out with the not-so-fun cleaning chores. Give your kids incentive to help—a later bedtime, an extra half hour of television or their pick from the holiday candy bowl.

Take a Time-Out
It’s important to set aside you time—away from your kids, husband, dog, mother-in-law, et cetera, et cetera. Pick up that book you can’t seem to finish. Take a yoga class. Get a massage or a manicure and pedicure. Go see that sappy movie you’ve been dying to see that your husband has avoided like the plague. Go for a quick walk around the neighborhood. Relax in the bath—with bubbles. Take a nap. Do nothing! Don’t feel guilty taking a break—your family will probably thank you for it! You’ll feel refreshed and better prepared to take on that massive to-do list. Need help with that list? Get organized at www.todoist.com.

—Katie O’Dowd