TT: Relax!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

Sorry guys!  I know things have slowed down considerably and that is because holiday prep has been going strong on this end.  The HQ is gearing up for celebrating the end of 2008 and what proved to be a good year for us.  After today, OHC HQ is on holiday.  Which means by this evening, the staff will have taken to snacking, drinking wine, and probably snacking some more.  They are a bunch who take their holiday very seriously indeed.  The blog will still be updated daily so make sure to stop in there to see exactly what kind of debauchery the staff has decided to get into.

Anyway, my TT tip to you today is to chill out.  No really.  I know full well that while the holiday season brings lots of yummy food, friends, and good times to the table, it also brings stress, tension, and bickering.  And seriously, do we need that kind of yuck in our lives during the holidays?  I don’t think so.

Personally I’m all for eliminating the cause of stress because I am not a believer in the that’s-just-part-of-the-holiday-experience theory.  But I realize that this does not work for everyone.  With that in mind I have some strategies to help avoid the stress and help bring in the happy.

Alcohol.  What?  I’m not talking about getting slap-happy drunk, buzzed, or otherwise inebriated.  And I especially do not suggest this during family get togethers or work functions.  Because the drunk brings out the honest in people and that is not always a good thing.  No, I’m referring to the end of an evening at home, maybe have one of your favorite drinks.  By the fire.  In a bath.  In your hottub.  Something relaxing to help you unwind and face another year of Aunt Bertha’s sloppy wet kisses and very gross and very traditional jello “salad”.

Don’t drink?  Go fun!  Work on some new punch ideas, make mocktails (or what OHC HQ calls “fizzies”), or perhaps coffee is your choice of beverage.  Whatever, do it responsibly is what I’m saying.  Enjoy it and take a minute to yourself.

Plan, plan, plan.  People if you have been reading for a while, you know I am all about the organization.  Planning ahead or even just week by week, helps things run smoother.  It gives you a little more breathing room at the end of the day.  And it doesn’t have to be set in stone.  It’s your schedule, you can be as flexible as you need to be.  But plotting out some sort of basic idea can help ease stress, I promise.

Don’t sweat the small stuff.  If your cards don’t arrive before the holiday, does it really matter?  If the packages don’t get there before Christmas, is it the end of the world?  Not so much.  If the recipient gets cranky because they didn’t get a holiday card or package beforehand, perhaps you need to reassess whether they should get one at all.  I’m just saying.  The holidays are about giving and about being happy with our lot in life and for those who share that with us.  Someone who can’t appreciate that doesn’t understand what’s important and may need some guidance on what they are missing.

Spend time with your significant other, just the two of you.  If you have kids, then just all of you.  A lot of people tend to travel during the holidays and they get so focused on a schedule and who has to be where and when.  And how many days are we spending here?  And when is the flight?  And how long is the drive?  And so on and so on, that the family unit doesn’t get a chance to just be together and have a moment.  Make sure you have a moment where it’s just you guys.  That can go a long way to help making the holiday season that much more special.

All of us at OHC HQ wish you all the best this holiday season.  Be safe, be happy, and have a great holiday!

8 thoughts on “TT: Relax!

  1. I love this post. It help me to refocus and relax, we are so much a like it’s not even funny..lol..so nice to find someone else that is an organization nut like me!

  2. special k says:

    Babe, I just thought I’d let you know I made Potato Puffs this past weekend, and they were a smash hit.

    I did play with my food, so it was a bit different from your base point, but seriously: everyone loved the hell out of them. (I made 45 of them, and the 4 people here, not including myself, ate them all and were looking for more. I eventually had to tell them to F.O.)

    Awesome! I’ll definitely be doing that again, since I usually just eat left-over mashed potatoes out of the bowl all by my own self.

    Chances are good I won’t get to talk to you before Christmas, so I’ll take this opportunity to with you and all your beloved a very happy holiday.

  3. special k says:

    Just so you know, I think your tips for handling the holidays appropriately are right on the money.

    I’m gonna shaddap right now.

  4. hi andrea (and scott!) – thank you SOOOOOOOOOOO much for your christmas card! it meant SO much to me to receive that card and your words were so sweet! i am so glad that i have “met” you through the blogging community and i wish you a very happy and healthy new year!

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