[Vickie McDonough] Christmas Is Over…Now What?

By Vickie McDonough

The holidays are mostly over, except for putting away decorations, finishing up all that food we cooked, and saying goodbye to some lingering relatives. Soon we’ll be trying to lose the weight we gained over the holidays and working to pay off all those presents we bought. The holidays sure can be demanding. Here are ten tips to reduce stress in your life.

What do you do after the holidays are over?

1. Cut yourself some slack. Make time to rest, read a book, watch a Hallmark movie, or do something for yourself. Nobody can thrive by staying constantly busy. Allow yourself time for a good night’s rest, too.
   Nobody can thrive by staying constantly busy. -@vickiemcdonough Share on X
2. Take a break from technology. Email, texting and the like will be there after you’ve had some down time. You’ll be surprised how much extra time you’ll have.
3. Pull out your goals’ list for this year, and get back to work on it. Pick the easiest-to-accomplish item and work toward it. Doing this gets you refocused and gives you an action plan. Don’t have a goals list? Make one. It can be a simple to-do list, like put away decorations, take down the tree, or freeze leftover ham or turkey.
4. Don’t be afraid to delegate. You may still be tired from the preparations for the holiday. Since your kids are home from school, put them to work. They need something to occupy their time anyway.
5. Take a Sabbath. Even God took time to rest, so why do we think that we can go 24/7? Remember why we’ve been celebrating Christmas and take time to honor God and seek Him.
   Take a Sabbath. Even God took time to rest. -@vickiemcdonough Share on X
6. Take time to exercise. Physical activity helps our bodies and minds. Exercise can also help you lose the extra pounds you may have gained over the holidays.
7. Don’t feel you have to eat all of the food leftover from your Christmas meal. Freeze the majority of the leftover meat to use some other time. Eat more fruit and veggies and salads. Bright greens and fresh juices will help keep you healthy, so you can fight colds better.
8. Give to others. We all are in the giving mood before Christmas, but why stop just because it’s over? Your kids probably got a slew of new toys. Why not go through their old ones and donate some? I bet you got some new clothes. Try sorting through your old ones and donating some of them. There are always needy people who will appreciate them.
   We all are in the giving mood before Christmas, but why stop just because it's over? -@vickiemcdonough Share on X
9. Try something new. With a brand new year quickly approaching, why not start that hobby you’ve been thinking of? A new hobby or activity can help fill the void after the party is over and your family has gone home.
   

   You can try something new!

10. Plan your Dream Trip. Even though you may not be able to afford a big trip, recent studies have shown that just the planning of one can increase your happiness, and it gives you something to save toward. Who knows, maybe one day you might actually be able to take that trip.