Coping With The Holidays
Welcome to Day 1 of our Twelve Days of Christmas: Coping with the Holidays Series. For the next few weeks, Empathic Counselling Centre will be sharing our secrets to dealing with holiday stress and our life hacks that have been tried and tested.
Why?
Well, studies have shown that the Christmas season is one of the most stressful seasons of the year. We sweat over creating the perfect meals, decking our homes with amazing decor, finding the perfect gifts, and cramming in as many gatherings as possible. Somehow we manage to do this within a very very short period of time. Super stressful indeed! SO, we've compiled a series where we give you tips to help ease that process.
As much as I hate to admit it, nothing screams Christmas to me more than presents. Being the gift enthusiast that I am, I usually start thinking about what I want to get my loved ones as early as October. Finding the perfect gift is stressful because you want to be 1000% sure that your recipient will love and appreciate the thought that went into this gift. Well guess what, that is a crazy amount of stress that you put on yourself. Imagine how many shopping centres you have to search to find "the one". Imagine how many hours you will spend evaluating and tweaking to get it just right. There has to be an easier way. Here are my tips for taking the stress out of Christmas shopping:
1.Purchase your gifts online: With so many online shopping options, you can search, compare, and have your gifts delivered to your door without even stepping foot into a store. No more need to haggle, compare, and walk up and down floors at the mall.
2.Purchase the same gift for multiple people: Buy three sets of that body scrub as opposed to buying a unique gift for three individuals. Grab a cart full of wine that you can bring to every gathering. No one has to know that you bought your gifts in bulk. I hope this goes without saying, but this only works if these three individuals don't know each other and will not receive the gift at the same time.
3.Homemade gifts are just as good (if not better) than store bought: If you have a skill, why not put that in to use. If you're an amazing baker, why not make batches of sugar cookies and uniquely package them? If you're an avid knitter, why not make your loved ones scarves and hats for this winter season? They'll appreciate the personal touch and will enjoy it all that more
4.Gift an "experience": Some of us enjoy spending quality time with our loved ones over the holidays. Instead of exchanging gifts, why not share the gift of time with each other. Go out with your sister and get your nails done together. Go skating as a family. Treat each other to hot chocolate by a fire and get lost in conversation.
5. Cheat with gift baskets: Sometimes we simply have no idea what to get! That's why gift baskets were invented. Gift baskets can come in themes with a variety of different items. Get a sports themed gift basket for that uncle who is super into physical activity. How about a chocolate gift basket for your cousin with a sweet tooth? Gift baskets are also great gifts for couples - there's a little something for everyone.
Did I forget something? What other gift hacks do you have that make the Christmas season easy for you?