![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.beliefnet.com\/sites\/261\/2011\/12\/207166_10150566829270537_758175536_18018906_565319_n4-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>Okay, that\u2019s easier said than done — but, whether you realize it or not, you actually choose your level of holiday stress.\u00a0 Maybe it\u2019s worth it to you — in which case you\u2019ll survive this year as you have other years in the past.\u00a0 If it is getting to you, though, and robbing you of joy, it may be time to take a look at your priorities.<\/p>\nDo you really need to bake all those cookies?\u00a0 It means time and expense, and, let\u2019s face it, you will probably be eating a lot of them yourself.\u00a0 Perhaps this is a tradition you can lose.\u00a0 If you must bake cookies, get your kids or grandkids to help and make it a fun time, not something else added to an already busy schedule.\u00a0 And send the cookies home with them so you won\u2019t be tempted to eat them. \u00a0 If\u00a0 you have to bring cookies for a holiday party — buy them.\u00a0 And send the leftovers home with someone else.<\/p>\n
Tired of hunting for the perfect present for someone who already has everything?\u00a0 How about a donation in their honor to a charity close to their hearts?\u00a0 Your animal lover family member might appreciate a donation in his name to an animal rescue group — and your mission-minded loved one may be happy to have a gift to a Chinese orphanage rather than another tie.\u00a0 It\u2019s silly to keep looking for more stuff for folks who have too much stuff already.\u00a0 Take the pressure off and start matching causes to people on your gift list.<\/p>\n
And is your gift list too long?\u00a0 It just may be that there are people you can drop — who would be happy to also drop your name from their too-long list.\u00a0 A frank talk can relieve a lot of needless anxiety.\u00a0 Perhaps some of the people — like siblings or co-workers– would be happy to have a name draw for gifts rather than buying for every single person. Chances are that if you are overwhelmed, other folks are, too.<\/p>\n
But, what about the kids?\u00a0 They expect gifts from grandma and grandpa (and often, aunts and uncles).\u00a0 Those gifts tend to be buried in the pile on Christmas day.\u00a0 Why not make an outing with the grandkids and take them Christmas shopping?\u00a0 Let them pick out their gift, within pre-set price parameters.\u00a0 They will enjoy an early gift that is their only gift that day far more than an extra toy on a day overflowing with stuff.<\/p>\n
Take a good look at all the things you do that wear you out over the holidays.\u00a0 What things are really important?\u00a0 What will leave a big\u00a0 hole if they aren\u2019t there?\u00a0 Do those things, but drop the things that really don\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n
You may find yourself dropping those extra stress snacks, too — and survive the holidays with your eating plan intact.<\/p>\n
Eating to live and living for Christ,<\/p>\n
Susan Jordan Brown<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Stress eating — it can pile on the holiday pounds.\u00a0 How can you avoid them?\u00a0 Avoid stress. Okay, that\u2019s easier said than done — but, whether you realize it or not, you actually choose your level of holiday stress.\u00a0 Maybe it\u2019s worth it to you — in which case you\u2019ll survive this year as you…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":423,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[307,305,306],"class_list":["post-1090","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-helpful-tips","tag-gifts","tag-holiday","tag-stress"],"yoast_head":"\n
Holiday Stress Pounds - How to Avoid Them - Beyond Gorgeous<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beyondgorgeous\/2011\/12\/holiday-stress-pounds-how-to-avoid-them.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Holiday Stress Pounds - How to Avoid Them - Beyond Gorgeous\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Stress eating — it can pile on the holiday pounds.\u00a0 How can you avoid them?\u00a0 Avoid stress. 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<\/a>Okay, that\u2019s easier said than done — but, whether you realize it or not, you actually choose your level of holiday stress.\u00a0 Maybe it\u2019s worth it to you — in which case you\u2019ll survive this year as you have other years in the past.\u00a0 If it is getting to you, though, and robbing you of joy, it may be time to take a look at your priorities.<\/p>\n