TAKE A BREAK
Avoiding Holiday Stress
It’s here! The holiday season has arrived.
The holidays are full of happiness, cheer, great food, fun times, and some inevitable stress. With the hustle and bustle of preparing for family gatherings, it’s hard not to get a tad overwhelmed.
To avoid becoming anxious — and to make sure you enjoy time with family and friends — try to take some breaks this holiday season. Oftentimes, between work holiday parties, shopping, meal prepping, cleaning, planning, and the duties of our daily lives, it can become too much. Make sure you allow some time to pay attention to your own needs and feelings. The alone time may be just what you need to stay relaxed. There is such a thing as doing too much of a good thing. Too many activities can culminate into unnecessary stress. With all of the gift giving, sometimes it can cause people to wind up spending too much money. Make sure you set a budget for buying gifts and stick to it! Now more than ever, many are struggling financially. There are gift options that cost little to no money. Consider crafting some gifts, packaging some of your favorite recipes, cooking something tasty, or planning a day of fun. Make sure to stay realistic. Try to take the pressure off yourself and, if you are hosting a party, the entire house doesn’t need to be deep-cleaned — just spruce up the common areas. Instead of worrying about everything being perfect, concentrate on the traditions that make the holiday special. To avoid becoming overwhelmed by too many activities, prioritize them. Remember, if you don’t get to something, it’s okay! Most of the time, holiday stress is predictable; you’ll see it coming, and you’ll know when it’ll end. However, we can do many of these things to keep it at a manageable level. Come January, you don’t want to feel depleted. Take the time to enjoy the season and create lasting memories! Happy holidays!
Easy Cranberry- Apple Salad
Inspired by CookieAndKate.com
Want the taste of fall without the calories? Try this quick and easy salad, topped with homemade apple cider vinaigrette. Ingredients
For the salad: • 1/4 cup dried
For the dressing: • 1/4 cup olive oil • 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar • 1 1/2 tsp honey • 1 tsp Dijon mustard • Salt and pepper to taste
pumpkin seeds • 5 cups salad mix • 2 Granny Smith apples, chopped into bite-size pieces • 1/3 cup dried cranberries • 1/3 cup goat cheese, crumbled
Directions
1. In a skillet over medium heat, toast the pumpkin seeds until fragrant, then set aside. 2. In a small jar or bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients, then set aside. 3. Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl. Drizzle with dressing until lightly coated, then toss and serve!
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