Keeping Calm During the Holidays - They're Coming!

Posted: October 24, 2025, 8:10PM

We will be sliding into Thanksgiving very soon. Then, we're heading into Christmas / Hanukkah / Kwanzaa season. Regardless of our faith tradition, the holidays are often busier. We are juggling meals, gifts, decorating, holiday traditions, caregiving, grandchildren, work, and more. Caregiving may entail older relatives, grandchildren, or both.

It's important to stop and take a deep breath or two. Prioritize. It's early - make a to-do list.

What do you absolutely HAVE to do? What can be delegated? What can you take off the list - totally?

*Determine what tasks you absolutely, positively have to accomplish. Write those down.

*If friends or family have offered to help, let them. (Remember, accepting help is also a gift - to the person making the offer.)

If you can take advantage of deliveries, check out your options. It's time-saving and may also be cost-effective. Do some comparison shopping.

Write down friends and family who have offered to help. What have they offered to do or what would be helpful to you? People who offer to help, want to help. Let them.

*Delegate cooking responsibilities. Assign certain dishes or work out your system so everyone contributes. It can create a wonderful memory for the holiday.

*Think about what you can NOT do this year. Maybe you don't need to bake 25 dozen cookies this year. Maybe you don't need to send 100 Christmas cards. Let some of it go.

It can be difficult to change what may be years of traditions. But think of your mental health. Also, those around you get caught up in the stress. Consider their mental health too. Enjoy your family. Enjoy your friends.

Think about what is important about the holidays.