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10 Tips for More Meaningful Holidays


No matter how many lists you make, cards you send, gifts you buy, or packages you wrap, there will be things you intended to do this holiday season that won't get done. If you do manage to get everything done, but you're too tired to enjoy the season, everyone suffers.

Consider these tips to minimize your stress and maximize the meaning this holiday season:

1. Tamper with tradition. Dragging yourself through "we've always done it" rituals when they've lost their meaning, and you've lost your energy, does not contribute to holiday joy.

2. Begin the season by making a list - but don't stop there. Pick out the most important item, the second, and on down the list. Remember, a creative mind always has more ideas than the body can accomplish!

3. Use your calendar - not just for appointments with other people, but with yourself as well. If you plan to send cards, estimate how much time it will take to write and address them, and block out that time on your calendar.

4. Ask your family what's important. Prepared foods instead of home-cooked means more time for sharing new sports equipment and relaxing with friends.

5. Avoid perfectionism in gift-giving. It's the thought that counts. Choose one or two gifts that can be used for several people. A relaxed parent or hostess is a greater gift than anything money can buy.

6. Focus your energy. If your family isn't as excited as you are about decorating the whole house, invest your efforts on what means the most to you.

7. If the holidays bring pain because of death, divorce, or family far away, be gentle with yourself. Recognize that grief is a healthy and that next year will be better, even if you can't believe it today. Concentrate on making other people's holiday more joyful.

8. Take time out from total togetherness. Let your child call a friend and take a nap. Give your siblings the car keys and a map. The idea is for everyone to enjoy the occasion.

9. Be clear about expectations. If you never tell your family what you want them to do, it's unfair to expect them to know.

10. Look over your list, leave off what you can live without, and enjoy the real reason for the season.

© Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.ProductiveEnvironment.com


"Holidays" in the News:

Videogamer.com

Socom 4 Not Coming For Holidays, Pushed To 2011
I4U
What was to be one of the biggest holiday hits is now being pushed back to next year, as Socom 4 developers are unable to wrap up the project in time. ...
SOCOM 4 Deployment Delayed, Moving Out in 2011Kombo.com

all 37 news articles »


WKRG-TV

Tax holidays more about politics than economics
Baltimore Sun
One sign of tax holidays' stupidity is the criticism they get from thoughtful people on both sides of the political divide. Liberals hate temporary retail ...
U.S. States' Sales-Tax Holidays for School Shopping Derided as `Gimmicks'Bloomberg
Sales tax holidays mean win/win/win for retailers, shoppers and statesNational Retail Federation (press release) (blog)
More States Offer Back-to-school Tax Holidays, Despite State Revenue Woes ...PR Newswire (press release)
Bankrate.com -ConsumerReports.org (blog) -Barre Montpelier Times Argus
all 88 news articles »


French first lady's cameo ruins cabinet's holidays
Ottawa Citizen
The mood was of luvviness -- all kisses and smiles -- as Carla Bruni made her acting debut this week in front of the cameras for Woody Allen's next movie. ...

and more »


Broadcom Stocks Up for the Holidays
Motley Fool
This practice, known as "hubbing," allows gadget manufacturers to manage their build-outs for hectic sales periods such as year-end holidays. ...

and more »


This is London

Child abductions rise expected in summer holidays
AFP
LONDON — The number of British children abducted by a parent and taken overseas is expected to rise over the summer, the Foreign Office warned on Thursday. ...
Number of child abductions rises by 39 per cent in a year - Foreign OfficeTelegraph.co.uk

all 85 news articles »


CTIA's Annual Hot for the Holidays Awards Program to Accept Entries in August
PR Newswire (press release)
Look no further than the second annual CTIA Hot for the Holidays awards program, which honors the best mobile consumer electronics products and applications ...

and more »


CPS offers 8 concessions to teachers
Chicago Tribune
Another concession would be eliminating nine paid holidays, which would trim the deficit by $88 million this year. If all eight suggestions were implemented ...
CPS Asks Teachers for New ConcessionsMyFox Chicago
Union pickets meeting, releases negotiation details; district passes new ...Catalyst Chicago

all 9 news articles »


Summer holidays leave consumers searching for toys
Independent
The school holidays have impacted on internet search terms according to figures released by market research and monitoring group Experian Hitwise. ...



Dancey Dancing Into Town Just in Time for the Holidays: The Yo Gabba Gabba ...
MarketWatch (press release)
CYPRESS, CA, Jul 28, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- In an announcement that is sure to reverberate through holiday gift lists in 2010, Vans announced today ...

and more »


How to shop the Tax-free "holidays" in Maryland and Virginia
Examiner.com
Tax-free week is almost here! The time when Maryland and Virginia don't charge sales tax, so families can stock up on back-to-school items and not ...

and more »

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