Holiday Matters: Make Your Holidays Stress-Free

By Tana Poncsak

As soon as the kids roam the neighborhood for candy on Halloween, many of us start thinking (and maybe obsessing) about the upcoming holidays. After all, there’s cooking to be done, presents to buy, and plans to be made all while still working and going about our daily lives. And while the holidays are supposed to be meaningful and fun, often they turn out to be tiring, disappointing, and stressful.

According to a December 2017 article in Medical News Today, some people can feel overwhelmed by the excess, expectations, and exchange and can become depressed during the holidays. The article goes on to say that a lack of time and money, credit card debt, and the pressure of gift giving can often contribute to stress during the holiday season. As mentioned in this article and cited by many others as well, one of the main causes for holiday stress can be linked to our expectations. We watch the holiday movies and see images of the picture-perfect holidays, and that becomes what we strive for. Anything less misses the mark. And unfortunately, with the recent pandemic there may be even more emphasis on that picture-perfect holiday now that we’re able to gather together once again.

The answer can be as easy as keeping things simple and don’t over plan. But we all know that’s easier said than done. Here are a few things you can do to lower your expectations and keep things simple. • Make a realistic list of the things you need to accomplish to make your holiday special and meaningful. This shouldn’t be a long list.

Try to keep this list at three to six things. Then make a second list of the things you would like to accomplish but aren’t necessary to make your holiday complete. • Try to simplify or delegate the things that need to be done to make the best use of your time. For example, you want to read the latest holiday novel, but you have no time. Try listening to the audio version while commuting to and from work. You may even be able to borrow it from the library for free using an app like Libby. • Don’t like outdoor decorating? Delegate it to the professionals.

Some local landscaping companies may offer outdoor decorating during the holidays. • Don’t like to bake but need festive cookies? Leave the baking to your local bakery. • Have company coming into town for the holidays, but no time to clean? There are a number of cleaning services in the area you can call. • Need help wrapping? Hire a neighborhood teen to wrap your packages one afternoon. • Short on time for cooking the holiday meal? Have it catered by a local restaurant. Or if that’s totally out of the question, try cooking some dishes using a pressure cooker or an air fryer and save the stove and the oven for dishes that need your extra attention. You

Vintage Market Days® Continued from page 5 why many people are excited to attend, Vintage Market Days® offers even more than that. While you’re strolling from booth to booth, take a moment to enjoy the live music that will be playing throughout the day. You won’t even have to leave the Market to grab some lunch, because there are tons of delicious treats and hearty meal options available through vendors and food trucks.

Vintage Market Days® is still a few days away, but go ahead and plan your visit now, because the first twenty-five pre-purchased ticket holders to attend the Market on Friday and Saturday will walk away with a tote bag filled with goodies provided by the same vendors and artists who have booths waiting for your visit. Anyone who purchases a ticket for Friday or Saturday will be able to use that ticket for access to the Market for the rest of the weekend, so if you find that your arms are too full to carry everything you’re hoping to buy, just make a note to come back the next day.

Of course, there is another solution to that problem: Vintage Market Days® has partnered up with their sponsor, the Paw Project of Georgia, to provide volunteers onsite to help customers take their larger purchases to their cars. Paw Project of Georgia, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing low-cost veterinarian and animal rescue services, is teaming up with Vintage Market Days® for the second time in a row and hopes to provide a heightened awareness about the services they make available for our furriest friends.

“Working with Paw Project of Georgia is a great way to support the local community,” said Lara. “I love having the opportunity to work with non-profits like these.”

So if you are ready to enjoy some amazing hand-crafted items, vintage decor, fantastic music, and yummy treats, look no further. Just join Lara and her team at Vintage Market Days® on November 18th, 19th, or 20th!

More information at vintagemarketdays.com/market/greater-atlanta

From the Publisher Continued from page 7 easy to feel everyone else is getting something that you are not, or you feel they are in a better place than you are. Such thoughts creep into our heads when we are lonely. Social media such as Facebook or Instagram can seem like the ultimate “highlight reel” (no pun intended) of others’ lives and can lead to us feeling even more alone (Note to reader: such highlights are not “everyday life,” but can sure seem that way).

What about when we get tired? After all, in our rapidly moving world, we ALL get tired at some point. This is a time you feel significant stress and need to rest. You know... chill out. So, do not communicate something you will later regret because you’re worn out. It will come across the wrong way. Instead, get some rest and approach everything with a fresh perspective. This is why we tell people to get a good night’s sleep, and things will look better in the morning.

So, there you go. You have my take on the SHALT rule and how it helps us better understand our emotions and when we should/ should not communicate. What about you? What “SHALT” you no longer do when you are not in the right frame of mind? Let’s also focus on what we SHALT do to make a positive difference in our community each day, week, and month. How can we bring people together? How can we help people find common ground? How can we listen more and talk less? The Our Town community always seeks to UNITE and grow together.

Finally, I thank you for your kind feedback on my monthly column. I shalt continually work hard to make it better. Until next time, I wish you a great November. And, as always, thank you for continuing with me... on the journey of my town, your town, OUR TOWN!