Gift shopping. Wrapping presents. Baking cookies. Visiting with family and friends. Getting ready for parties. There is so much to do in December, and it can be easy to get exhausted and burned out before the holidays actually start! To make sure you’re in top form for the actual festivities, make sure to take some time for yourself to relax and step away from the all the holiday preparations. It doesn’t have to be an expensive or time-consuming activity, just something that can take your mind away from the work you still need to do! Below, we’ve outlined a few ideas on what you can do to relax:

1. Try a guided meditation

Meditating can be a great way to clear your mind of any stressful thoughts. However, it can be difficult to stay focused on a meditation when there are many distractions around you. Try using a guided meditation to make sure you stay on track and keep focused on relaxation. There are many easy options to use – try searching online, on YouTube, or through a music streaming service like Spotify to find a meditation that works for you. Many options are available with differing time lengths and themes so you can find the best way to relax.

2. Take a reading break

When there is so much activity going on, finding the time to read for enjoyment is difficult. However, reading can be a great way to escape the busy holiday season and take your mind away from the various tasks left on your to-do list. As important as it is to take a break and read, you don’t want it to become too much of a distraction. If you’re worried about losing track of time or getting too absorbed into your novel, try setting a timer to make sure you stay on time.

3. Enjoy a soak in the tub

Relaxing in the bath or hot tub can be a great way to calm your mind and your body. Especially when the weather isn’t as nice outside, this can be a great way to press pause on your holiday activities. Light some candles, get a nice drink, and grab a book or play some soothing music and you can enjoy the perfect winter break!

4. Exercise your body

Being active is always a great way to relieve stress. Whether it’s hopping on the treadmill for a bit, taking some time to do yoga, or even attending a drop-in fitness class, exercising is a great way to relax, get energized, and help work off all the holiday treats! When life gets busy and the weather isn’t as nice, it is common for people to lose motivation to keep up their fitness. Instead of letting your exercise time fall to the bottom of your to-do list, try and make the time to do a physical activity.

5. Get some fresh air

The weather can be hit or miss in Calgary during the winter, but when the sun is shining and a chinook rolls in, it can be the perfect excuse to get outside and go for a brief stroll in the midst of all the holiday preparations. Fresh air can go a long way to improving your spirits and wellbeing, which is just what you need when you’re constantly going out or shopping or doing tasks around the house in the lead up to the holidays. You don’t have to enjoy your relaxation time alone - take a pet, friend or family member along to make the most of your break time.

With Halloween only a couple weeks away, make sure you have everything you need ready to go for trick or treating this year. While the occasion may look a bit different this year, you and your family can still have fun collecting chocolates and candy or distributing it to others by making sure you have the following ready:

For the trick-or-treaters:

Make sure all costumes are clean, in good shape, and ready to be worn. Though this seems unnecessary, sometimes costumes can get ripped or in disrepair after school activities or wearing around the house. Make sure any adjustments needed are made now, and costumes are safely stowed away until the big day. As with any Halloween in Calgary, there is always the potential for bad weather - make preparations now for what to do if winter coats, gloves, mitts and toques are needed. Will the costume be able to be worn outside a coat, or is there another way you can show it off while staying warm?

Face paint, make-up and elaborate hair dos can be a key part of a costume. It’s important to not only make sure you have all the materials you need to get them done, but that you know what you’re doing before the day of. Test out any supplies ahead of time to make sure nothing is dried out or low on supply. Doing a trial run of the face paint or hair style is also a good idea so you know how much time is needed before trick or treating and the work goes smoothly on the day.

Masks will also be an important safety precaution and accessory this year. To make them part of the costume, try to coordinate by finding colours and material that coordinate with the costume. Get creative and try putting together your own mask if you can’t find one online and customize it for the occasion! Other important materials to have on hand when you’re going house to house is hand sanitizer and wipes. Be mindful that you keep your distance from others, and disinfect in the event other surfaces are touched.

There are many different tools children can use to collect their candy - from pails, to reusable bags and the classic pillowcase. Whatever method is being used this year make sure that everything for candy collection. Check and bags and pillowcases for rips and tears (no one wants any candy leaking out!) and make sure there are a couple extras on hand to take along in case any start to get too heavy. Check straps on pails to make sure none are bended out of shape or broken off, and replace or make repairs if necessary.

For those handing out candy:

Handing out candy may seem like a no-brainer, but there is still preparation involved to make sure you’re ready to give out treats to trick or treaters once the first visitors arrive. First, make sure you have all the candy and treats you need. Whether it is chocolate, assorted candies, chips or whatever other kind of treat, try to think carefully about how much you need. While it never hurts to have extra, you probably don’t want to be stuck with a lot of leftovers after the end of the night. Try to consider the age and demographic of your neighbourhood - are there a lot of young families, or are most of the residents older? If you can think back to last year, try to recall how much you purchased and if you had enough and adjust accordingly. It always helps to keep track each year of how many visitors you get to help plan for the year ahead.

If you have decorations up, make sure that everything is in place in the days leading up and that nothing needs to be replaced or repaired. No one wants a burned out light or fallen-over ghost! Even though the goal is to make your decorations spooky, make sure that they don’t take away from the safety of others. Make sure your yard is still well-lit and there are no major obstacles in the way for visitors.

This year, it is also important that those handing out candy take precaution to protect against COVID-19. Make sure your face mask is ready to go and easy to put on and off when trick or treaters arrive. You can also have fun and customize a Halloween-themed mask to surprise guests! Have hand sanitizer on hand, and make sure any potential surfaces are disinfected beforehand just in case (like doorknobs, doorbells, and handrails). The province has a list of tips and guidelines on having a safe Halloween, including innovative ways that people can safely hand out candy while also maintaining the appropriate physical distancing and limiting the surface areas being touched. Visit alberta.ca/halloween for more.

However you may be celebrating Halloween this year, make sure you have everything you need for a stress-free and ghoulish event!