Surviving Holiday Stress {as seen on The Now KC}

Cliff's Notes for Surviving Holiday Stress {as seen on The Now KC}It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And the most stressful. And exhausting. And expensive. No matter how early we begin to plan for the holidays, calendar days seem to pass at warp speed come November.

By early December, we become addicted to Peppermint Mochas and start asking Santa for a clone to help tackle the to-do list. There’s no way to curb the stress completely, but I stopped by The Now KC with fellow mom, Jamie Needham, to talk about a few tips to help keep it at bay.

Tackle it Together!
As busy moms, we’re all feeling the same thing this time of year. I know this because we talk about it; we vent about to-do lists, discuss gift-buying dilemmas and help each other justify eating fudge for lunch. Since we’re all in the same boat, ride the waves together! Coordinate schedules and give yourselves a Holiday “Get It Done” Day – get a babysitter, take a day off work, and do what you have to do to reserve a day with your best girlfriends. Meet for coffee to go over to-do lists and then tackle them together. Trips to Toys R’ Us are more fun if you’re not alone and it never hurts to have an extra opinion on that gift for a relative who’s particularly difficult to buy for. By having one day assigned to knock-out things on your growing list, you won’t have to stress out about when to fit it all in and will be amazed at what you can accomplish in one afternoon. The best part about doing it together – you can turn your to-do list into a fun girls’ day, which you need more than ever this time of year.

Resist the Urge to Compare
Websites like Pinterest are 10 shades of awesome. They provide amazing DIY ideas with bright and shiny inspirational photos that make us all believe that we can give Martha Stewart a run for her money with the right supplies and a few free hours. When it comes to the holidays, however, these website displays can make us feel a little less-than about our mismatched tree decorations, leftover gift wrap, and door wreath that needs a serious makeover. Do yourself a favor – resist the urge to browse DIY websites this holiday season. Life isn’t picture perfect, so don’t let the websites, glossy catalog covers, and advertisements fool you. If your family holidays are filled with laughter and love, they’re as perfect as can be.

Baking Party
Oh, the sweets, Love them or curse them, platters of chocolate-dipped creations are a must-have this time of year. If your intentions are good, but your time is short, consider dividing and conquering this particular holiday task. Invite friends over for a baking party and ask them to bring the fixings for a favorite holiday treat. Spend the afternoon listening to holiday music, watching the kids play, and creating sweet confections with your besties. At the end of the day, divide the goodies up and everyone takes home a platter for some really sweet dreams.

Focus on Traditions
There are so many fun events this time of year, it’s hard not to want to experience them all! Adding too many things to your festive calendar, however, is a sure-fire way of working your way to that Peppermint Mocha addiction. If you draw a line in the snow at just a few special things to do during the season, you’ll find that everyone in the family enjoys them more. Maybe this is the year that you’ll start a new ice skating tradition, or make a trip to the Coterie Theater and check-out the Gingerbread Village in Crown Center after the show. And, some of the best traditions don’t cost you a thing. Climb into bed and watch White Christmas with your little ones or designate an afternoon for the entire family to conquer the best sledding hill in the neighborhood. When it comes to taking in all that the season offers, less really can be more.

tiffanyk
Tiffany spends her days trying to act like she’s organized. Behind the scenes, she’s usually practicing yoga breathing to curb the panic over throwing too many figurative balls in the air. She’s a lawyer, freelance writer, published author and, most importantly, a mom to two hilarious, creative, and spunky little boys – seven-year-old Max, and five-year-old Finn. Realizing years ago that writing allows her to find the humor in almost any situation, Tiffany writes whenever the opportunity allows and can often be found on the second floor of her favorite coffee shop pounding on her laptop after consuming her weight in vanilla lattes. Tiffany has been a regular contributing writer to local magazines, including M Magazine, 435, and North Magazine, and achieved a lifelong dream of becoming a published author with the 2013 release of her first novel, “Six Weeks in Petrograd.” Tiffany and her husband, Alan, can be found around Parkville trying to corral their two crazy boys and an equally crazy pound puppy named Maddie Lou. You can learn about her current novel (and her second novel in the works) at www.tiffanykilloren.com or drop by her Tiffany W. Killoren, Writer page on Facebook.