Don’t stress over the Holidays check out some of my Stress-Free Holiday Tips to make this a fun and enjoyable time #SimplyHealthy

While sitting in the car line to pick up the kids from school the other day I had some time to kill and I ran across an article on the Healthy Living Made Simple online magazine about Stress-Free Tips on my Sam’s Club App on the iPhone. I loved their ideas and decided this year I will not let stress let me down and came up with my own version of how to keep stress at a bay and wanted to share how I will do that with all of you. Be sure to read the article when you get a chance, it’s a free app if you have an iPhone/iPad but you can also just read the article online if you don’t have an iPhone/iPad. I Love the app it has a lot of great article and tips, perfect for every situation.

While I read the article I decided to check out Sam’s Club during our weekly shopping trip to see how I could make my Holidays a bit easier for me and to my surprise I found a lot of things that would help me. That’s how my 5 steps survival guide was created, check it out below and hopefully it will help you, too. We all know Moms are the busiest this time of the year, well… besides Santa of course. Everything has to be just right. Let’s see how we can help you out. I created a little list, you can print if you like or create your own with the things that your family needs to keep you on track.

1. Make a List and Check it twice! Making a list well in advance for everything you need to do and maybe a list that you want to do is the best thing ever. Mark all the things off your need to do list as you go along and slowly if time allows add things from your want to do list. Don’t kill yourself if things don’t get done. It can wait till next year, it’s not like Christmas won’t come back again and no one will ever remember that you forgot to make that special Christmas punch or Christmas cookie, just add it to next year’s list if you are already running short on your MUST do list.

2. Let someone else do the cooking. That was kind of interesting and new to me. I love to cook and shower all my family, friends and guest with all my special German dinner ideas, cookies and desserts, but let’s face it, I can’t cook and bake 24/7 just to make everyone happy and still be the happy mom that my husband and kids need, does that mean I will not cook at all this season? No, of course not. But consider checking your local Sam’s Club to maybe pick up some of their already pre-made dinner ideas. I was surprised about the selection they had available from Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes the size that would feed an army and very delicious, I may add, to Rotisserie Chicken that is cheaper than buying the chicken at your local grocery store under $5, can’t be beat!! Add a side salad or fruit salad, all freshly prepared by your friendly Sam’s Club Associates and you can call it dinner, a party or whatever event you will dish up the delicious sides, meals or snacks. They even had soups, pair it with a freshly baked baguette and you have a hearty dinner for your family in no time and still budget friendly while you run errands around town.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I know this is a hard one for me as well, but why not. If you have kids, let them help. Start traditions it’s never too soon to turn a house decorating or cookie baking event into a family tradition and you don’t have to slave over it all by yourself and it can be a fun event for the entire family. Cleaning can be a family event as well, give everyone a room of the house, turn the music up and add a timer and tell everyone let’s go. If you don’t have kids, ask a friend I’m sure if you ask them, they gladly accept. If your friends are like mine, they never say no if you pay them with cookies and maybe a cup of “Gluhwein” or hot cocoa. All you have to do is ask! Don’t be shy! You can’t get everything done alone.

4. Don’t overdo it. Do you really have to decorate every room in the house including all 5 bathrooms and all 10 bedrooms? Really? How about putting out all 5 10ft. Christmas trees? How about just keeping it simple this year and decorating a few special rooms like the Family room and living room and making that extra special, saving you lots of time, money and energy before and even after the holidays, that time can be spend with your family sitting in front of your fireplace sipping on hot cocoa and reading a fun book or enjoying movie, so keep it simple, no one will judge you if you do.

5. Enjoy this time of the year! I know moms are little miracle workers this time of the year, everything has to be just perfect and we have to make everyone’s favorite cookie, dinner or dessert, find all the perfect gifts and presents even the mail man gets the perfect gift, but how about mom? Who worries about Mom? Does mom get her perfect cookies? Does mom get her perfect dinner? Who brings mom her hot cup of cocoa? Who makes mom’s Christmas special? Exactly… YOU!!So take it slow, enjoy the time with your family and relax, it will be alright! Don’t hustle and bustle for everyone else, spend time for yourself with all your loved ones time goes by too fast and before you know it they are all grown and then what? Treasure it! Keep it #SimplyHealthy and you will see it is all worth it in the end. #CollectiveBias

How do you plan to stay stress free this holiday season? Share your tips with us. From our home to yours enjoy your Family and Friends and make it a wonderful time of the year.