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Are the Relatives Coming for the Holidays? Tips to cope with getting ready! By Marla Stone, Owner of The Clutter Remedy

12/4/2024

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Okay, I'm sure the panic is just starting to creep up! It is inevitable; the holidays
are here! Holiday parties have already begun to show up on your calendar. Cards are starting to show up in the mail. You're feeling pressured to shop, clean, organize, cook, and get all the holiday gear out and up. I know because I am feeling it, too.

I started preparing and getting things done earlier this year than
ever before because I am 60-plus years old now, and I can't afford to
stroke out over Santa and burnt-out bulbs. I also decided to downsize some of
the hoopla. Instead of unpacking all the holiday stuff, I kept it
simple and put out about half the trinkets and decor. I strung only half
the lights around the house and garden than I usually would hang. I used the
tiniest fake Christmas tree for our official tree this year. Usually, I make a
huge plate of Latkes (painstaking potato pancakes), and this year, I bought
them from a woman who makes them way better than I do. Also, Trader Joe's Latkes are spectacular.

We celebrate Hanukah and Christmas in our home, which can get complicated. This year, I did not let that happen. A Menorah here and a Santa there, not the gazillion items I usually put out, and the house still looks, smells, and feels like the holidays. And I feel more rested and at ease during this hectic season.

When I discuss easing up around the holidays with friends, family, and clients, I usually hear the heavy-hearted whine about "doing it for the kids." Well, let me tell you, having your kids watch you spaz out about what tree to buy, where to put it, what to put on it, and hunting down the dreidel from Aunt Ida while drowning in butter cookie dough does not make them feel warm and cuddly. Do you really think they are enjoying watching you have a merry meltdown? No, the kids would rather see you relaxed, communicative, and well MERRY. Take a sip of that good ol' fashion...ol' fashion.

In the old days, we just did not have that much stuff. We had one lovely dress or suit to wear. One dressy shoe choice to put on our feet. We had one tree, one Menorah, a few candles, one wreath, one Dreidel, and very few presents around that tree, mainly consisting of what we could use, like clothing, shoes, books, and specific items that we would buy regardless. Today's holiday celebration has become so large, fast, and furious that it is like a heart-thumping marathon, ending with a meal that would cause most people heart pain and indigestion. It starts to feel so overwhelming and stressful that it takes the "holi" out of holiday, leaving "day." Just another day of stress, strategies, and desire for sleep, nutrition, and to be in better shape!

This year, take it easy and don't use the kids, Martha Stewart's latest Christmas articles, or the neighbor’s neon holiday front yard displays as an inspiration to push you over. I always say, "If you push, you fall." And remember, we are going into another seasonal change...Winter. Read this article on how seasonal shifts affect our mood and demeanor. https://www.i-deal-lifestyle.com/blog/transitioning-with-the-seasons-by-marla-stone

Winter will be on December 21st, 2024 this year, so enjoy the fall's end without falling on your face. Clown around more, talk to more friends on the phone instead of texting, have a holiday potluck dinner instead of putting it all on your shoulders, and just sit with your kids and talk about the loftier aspects of the holidays and why and how they started in the first place! Put things into perspective when it comes to spending and giving. Donate items you no longer want to a charity, especially those that support the homeless, around the holidays. Know how fortunate you are, and be grateful for a new year to come!

Marla Stone, Ideal Lifestyle Expert

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Wake Up and Be Organized by Marla Stone

Are the Relatives Coming for the Holidays? Tips to cope with getting ready! By Marla Stone, Owner of The Clutter Remedy

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