The end of the year can be stressful for a whole bunch of reasons, whether it's finding the perfect gift for everyone, finishing assignments for school or work, coordinating travel, eating too much, spending too much, spending too much time with your family, or any of the other myriad causes of holiday headaches. That's why it's important to treat yourself right. Here are some things to consider as you cope with the holiday rush:
Remember to exercise. Not only is exercise the numer-one way to avoid gaining weight during the party-packed holiday season, it's also a great stress reliever, sleep aid, and the perfect way to make "time for yourself." Treating your body right during the holidays can go a long way to help you maintain a positive outlook on the season. Even if you only devote 15 minutes per day to exercise, that's time you deserve.
Don't be too hard on yourself. Most people enjoy the "season of giving" because its a chance to give gifts, time, and affection to friends, family, and communities. That said, we can only give so much, attend so many functions, and spend so much time. This feeling of "I should have done more" can often lead to anxiety and guilt, and actually turn a joyful time of year into an unhappy occasion. Give yourself permission to manage your commitments without viewing December 25th as a deadline. If you can't attend someone's holiday party, maybe you can arrange to spend some time with them in the new year. The same goes for holiday gifts. Just because your budget won't let you splurge on everyone, that doesn't mean you won't be able to reach out to them for birthdays and future events.
Ask for help. Don't be afraid to ask for others to help you accomplish holiday tasks, whether its bringing food to the family dinner or sharing the gift-giving burden with siblings. It could even be as simple as asking your spouse to contribute more than his or her normal share of the housework. Most people feel good about making an extra effort during the holidays, and as long as no-one overextends themselves (see above), a helping hand is probably one of the best holiday gifts you can get (or give).
We'd be remiss if we didn't mention that TypePad users can spruce up their blogs and their photo albums with custom visual themes specifically designed for the holidays. To change your blog theme, just follow the directions in the TypePad Knowledgebase entry about Setting Your Theme. You'll find the holiday blog themes listed under "Special Interest," and note that you may have to scroll down a little to see them, since they are the final three themes on that page. For photo albums, the templates can be found by navigating to your album's Design page and choosing "Style." There you'll see a drop-down list that includes dozens of styles, listed alphabetically. Look for the six styles titled "Holiday: ..." and you'll be in business.
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