The holiday season is upon us…

However, the holidays bring a certain amount of madness with planning road trips, shopping for gifts, keeping the kiddies entertained and dealing with guests. So how does one maintain a level of sanity during the holiday season?

Keeping your children busy

Every parent has heard the line, “I’m bored. There is nothing to do.” How do you resolve this? Parents can get their children’s creative juices flowing with DIY projects such as making toys out of recyclable items or even creating treasure hunts in the yard.

Planning shopping trips

Malls are somewhat chaotic during this time, so instead of attempting to visit the mall during peak hours, try to do your shopping during lunch breaks and early in the mornings, allowing you to miss the long queues.

Planning meals for visitors

Don’t try and do it all by yourself. Not only is it expensive, but it can be frustrating trying to make a big meal, while attempting to complete your other household tasks. Try and get guests to bring something small and edible in order to share with everyone else.

Exercise

Ever notice how you pack on the pounds during a holiday? Try getting some exercise, like a quick jog or a brisk walk. Not only will this help keep you fit, but will also leave you feeling less lethargic when going back to work.

Guests who don’t know when to go home

The holiday period is all about relaxing and catching up with friends, but there is always that one friend… You know the one, they are usually the first and last one to leave any social gathering. At times, they don’t need a social gathering to linger, leaving you wondering if they are considering moving in with you.
What to do? One easy tip to remember, without seeming rude, is when the individual arrives for a one-on-one visit, tell them you can’t visit too long as you need to go see some family.