Reducing Holiday Stress
Aug 24, 2010 Bakery House
The holiday season is upon us. It seems like only yesterday we were putting away the decorations and making New Years resolutions. Now Thanksgiving has passed and we’re all getting ready for December. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa or any other big holiday, the pressure of the season seems magnified compared to other times of the year.
It is also a time when we remember those who won’t be with us during the holiday season. Perhaps you have lost a loved one or you have a son or daughter in the military or away at college who can’t get home. Maybe they want to go on a ski trip with their friends instead. And, as the family grows, the juggling act of whose family to spend the holidays with often creates hard feelings for the family that not chosen. Perhaps money, or lack of money, is an issue. The anxiety induced by financial difficulties is high on the list of reasons for relationship conflict.
For many people, the stress of the holidays diminishes the joy of the festivities. Preparing the right meal, buying the right gift, having the right clothes, and cleaning the house can be overwhelming. Truly, don’t you deserve to enjoy the holidays? More importantly, don’t you deserve to enjoy each and every day?
Take a deep breath. Relax. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Don’t make yourself crazy making sure that your house is spotless and your meal is perfect. The holidays are about family and friends, not about the food.
Now, for some practical tips whether you’re celebrating with family or alone:
IF YOU’RE HAVING THE FAMILY:
While some people enjoy the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping and decorating, others find it cumbersome and confusing. There is the pressure to find exactly the right gift, to have the house decorated to Martha Stewart perfection, and to cook a meal worthy of Wolfgang Puck. Somewhere along the line, the true meaning of the holiday season has become muddled, and for so many people it is more stressful than enjoyable.
If you’re having the family over, here are some simple ways to relax and enjoy the holiday – a way to be a guest at your own party:
First, ORGANIZE! Make lists of everything that needs to be done. Have a list of things to buy for the big dinner; a list of presents for each person; a list of things to do in the house. Keep the lists handy so you can alter them as needed.
Then, PRIORITIZE! Figure out the Must Do’s and tackle them first. Then consider the Want To Do’s, see how much time and energy you have and decide how to proceed.
Finally, DELEGATE! Ask someone else to pick up the items on your grocery list; consider having a service come in to clean your home. Ask guests to supply the dessert or the wine. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Here are some more tips: Consider ordering gifts on-line. Some sites even offer gift wrapping and free shipping; but most importantly it saves you time and the pressure of facing the mall. You can even order food on-line or at local gourmet grocery.
Love the aroma of fresh baked cookies, but you can’t find your way around a kitchen? Buy a “Christmas Cookie” scented candle and check out your neighborhood bakery.
Most importantly and something that happens to all of us: make sure you have everything you need and you know where it is before you begin any project. Have you ever started wrapping packages and discovered that you can’t find a pair of scissors? Gather all your tools together before you begin.
Be sure to reasonably allocate your time. If you underestimate how long it will take to perform each task, you will be constantly running behind schedule.
Try to fit in a manicure, a massage, a lunch date – something that will help you reconnect and relax. Give yourself permission to find some pleasure in the process.
Holidays are about making memories. Make sure you have plenty of camera memory cards, film or tapes for your camcorder. And don’t forget to make sure that everything is charged and ready to go.
Turn on some holiday music to set the mood. Who doesn’t feel better listening to Jose Feliciano singing, “Feliz Navidad” or Adam Sandler’s “Hanukkah Song”?
Whatever holiday you celebrate, remember that it is not about the stuff, it’s about the love.
The following websites are personal favorites of ours, and we want to share them with you:
Amazon.com – gifts for the whole family.
rachaelray.com – simple holiday recipes and organizational tips.
flylady.net – tips to help you to organize your life and simplify!
hgtv.com – decorating ideas.
realsimple.com – helpful holiday hints.
allrecipes.com – real recipes submitted and reviewed by real people.
We hope you will find useful tips and information to help you to be a guest at your own party! But what if you’re not having a party and are alone and not celebrating with family or friends.
IF YOU’RE ALONE
Some of us live away from our family, some of us have gone through a divorce or lost a loved one and may be alone or with only one or two people. Maybe it’s the first year you’re alone or maybe it’s the tenth. It doesn’t matter. The holidays for some are times of stress. We think we’re supposed to be happy, but we’re not. We think we’re supposed to embrace the holidays, but maybe fear is standing in the way.
Here are some suggestions for things to do if you’re alone and prefer not to be alone:
TRAVEL. There’s still time to plan a trip. Go on a cruise that has set dinner tables – you don’t have to dine alone. Take an organized tour of someplace you’ve always wanted to go. On tours there are couples and there are singles and think of all the people you might meet!
If you plan to stay home:
INVITE. Make a list of all the people you know who are also alone and invite them over. Follow the suggestions above to have a stress free holiday.
TELL A FRIEND that you’re going to be alone. Your friends are your friends and they want to be there for you. People want to help.
GO TO A RESTAURANT. Find one other person who is alone, or your child, or your parent and make a reservation at a restaurant where you never get to go. Make it special.
ASK AT YOUR HOUSE OF WORSHIP. Many churches and temples have dinners on the holidays. Many also know of people who welcome someone who is alone. Don’t be embarrassed, do it. You never know you could meet your best new friends that night.
VOLUNTEER. If you’re not ready for a celebration, volunteer. There are so many places that can use your help to serve meals to those who are less fortunate than we are.
The most important thing we can say is don’t sit home alone unless that is your preference. Embrace the holiday in as simple a way as you can and remember that your loved one wants you to be happy. This can be the first day of the rest of your life.
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Tags: Anxiety, Bustle, Deep Breath, Family And Friends, Festivities, Financial Difficulties, Hanukah, Hard Feelings, Holiday, Holiday Season, Holiday Shopping, Juggling Act, Kwanzaa, Martha Stewart, New Years Resolutions, Reducing, Reducing Holiday Stress, Relationship Conflict, Ski Trip, Stress, Thanksgiving, True Meaning, Wolfgang Puck
Cheap Things To Do In Bangkok
May 28, 2010 Bakery Pastry
1. Get some fresh air in Lumpini Park
Budget Bangkok: Our guide to the best of Thailands capital on a budgetLumpini Park is a rare patch of green in Bangkok that provides a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of Khao San Road, crazy tuk-tuk drivers and the general madness of the city.
The best thing about it is that it’s absolutely free, so you can stroll around amid the green and peaceful surrounds at your leisure.
If you get tired of walking, you can grab yourself a massage or take part in an aerobics or Thai chi class for free.
If you do have a few baht free, you can hire a paddle boat for just 60 baht an hour or work out in the park’s outdoor gym for just 30 baht.
Alternatively, you can head to the sanctuary of the Butterfly Enclosure and Insectarium in the Roftai Gardens to get your green fix. The Insectarium has a fine collection of butterflies and beautiful flowers and, again, won’t cost you a penny!
2. Explore Bangkok’s temples, shrines and spirit houses
Erawan Shrine Bangkok 300×247 Budget Bangkok: Our guide to the best of Thailands capital on a budgetBangkok has a wide array of temples, shrines and spirit houses waiting to be explored. Many don’t charge a fee, but those that do charge no more than a small entrance fee or welcome donation which can be as generous or stingy as you want it to be.
The only exception is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha which will cost you 200 baht. However, when you consider that this is Thailand’s most treasured shrine and the fee also gets you admission to the Grand Palace complex and gardens, it’s really not a big price to pay.
Be sure to keep an eye out for the temple fairs too as these are also great fun, with traditional music, dancing and plenty of cheap things to eat to keep you going.
The city’s numerous shrines and spirit houses are also well worth a visit. Shrines are dotted all over Bangkok and are free to look at but Erawan Shrine next to Erawan Mall is probably as good a bet as any.
3. Hunt for bargains at second-hand stores
Night Market in Bangkok2 300×199 Budget Bangkok: Our guide to the best of Thailands capital on a budgetBangkok’s pretty cheap for clothes in general- unless you’re shopping in one of the city’s ultra trendy shopping malls- but if you’re after real bargains you need to get looking at some of the stalls on the open markets.
Here, you’ll find some real second-hand gems in amongst some of the more dubious items.
There are plenty of open markets to choose from in Bangkok that are good for a browse but Chatuchak Weekend Market and Lad Prao Night Market are two of the best.
4. Eat for free at the supermarket
Pad Thai Bangkok1 300×225 Budget Bangkok: Our guide to the best of Thailands capital on a budgetAfter all that walking round temples and scouring of markets for clothes, the chances are that you’ll be pretty hungry. Food is never far away in Bangkok and you don’t have to spend much dosh for good food if you know where to go.
Street vendors are nearly all good value but if you’re feeling particularly tight on cash you can eat for free in many of the bigger shopping malls. Supermarkets regularly have free food tastings- especially at weekends- where you’ll be able to chomp on enough free samples to render lunch unnecessary.
Many of the top of the range hotels and supermarkets also have their own in-house bakeries serving a large range of pastries and tasty snacks. At normal prices you wouldn’t go anywhere near them if you were on a budget, but about an hour before closing, prices plummet as they try to get rid of the day’s produce. Be sure to scavenge hard to find the tastiest varieties.
5. Head to Cheap Charlies for a cheap drink
Classy it most certainly isn’t, but Cheap Charlies does do exactly what it says on the tin- cheap drinks at cheap prices. With an extensive menu that has something for everyone, Cheap Charlies is a favorite amongst backpackers and worth dropping in for a cocktail or five during your stay in Bangkok.
Rumor has it that Cheap Charlies is the cheapest place to drink in Bangkok, this may or may not be true but we’ve certainly yet to hear of anywhere cheaper!
6. Climb Bangkok’s Tallest Building
View at night from Bayoke Tower Bangkok 300×199 Budget Bangkok: Our guide to the best of Thailands capital on a budgetIt’s a total of 2060 steps to make it to the top of Bayoke Tower but all the physical exertion is worth it for the 360 degree views of the city when you reach the viewing deck on the 77th floor.
You could ride the elevator of course but where’s the fun in that?!
From the 77th floor you can take a second elevator to enter the outdoor revolving deck on the 84th floor, however this will cost you 120 baht.
7. Learn the tango for free
Bangkok might not be the first place you think of when it comes to tango dancing but it’s getting pretty popular amongst Bangkokians. Offering fee lessons every Friday, La Rueda in the BTS Asok is the place to go.
If tango’s not your thing you can give salsa a try at Brazilian Restaurant Fogo Vivo in the President Tower Arcade. Every Friday and Saturday night the restaurant offers free lessons between 20:00 and 21:00. These are always very popular and well worth a visit of dancing is your thing.
Alternatively head to Benjasiri Park at 16:30 on a Sunday and give the 500 year old self-defense of Capoeira a go!
Tags: Bangkok, Bangkok Car, Beautiful Flowers, Bustle, Cheap, Chi Class, Entrance Fee, Erawan Shrine, Insectarium, Khao San Road, Lumpini Park, Outdoor Gym, Paddle Boat, Palace Complex, Rare Patch, Restaurant, Shrines, Spirit Houses, Temple Of The Emerald Buddha, Things, Things To Do In Bangkok, Traditional Music, Tuk Tuk, Welcome Break
