Take time to relax during the holidays!

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.

Organized travel during the holiday season

Many people travel during the holidays to get away from the cold weather, or visit family and friends. The holiday season is one of the busiest travel period of the year, and it can be hard to stay organized, especially when travel can get busy and chaotic and all you want to do is get to your destination. To stay on top of your holiday trip planning, try following these suggestions so you can enjoy stress-free travel this holiday season:

Make sure you have the essentials

It goes without saying, but make sure you have everything you absolutely need for your trip ready to go, including passports, ID, phones, chargers, tickets, and booking confirmations. For people who are travelling by vehicle, phones and chargers are especially important in case you run into bad weather and need to call for assistance or to give family and friends a heads up that you may be late or have to delay your trip. When times get busy, it is easy to forget the most basic and essential items, so make sure you pack these items first and put them in a bag or place you are not likely to forget them.

Expect the unexpected

When you’re travelling during the holiday season in Calgary, you need to be prepared for winter weather. Keep in mind that travelling during this time is not the same as travelling during the summer, and prepare yourself for possible delays, whether your driving or flying. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination if your driving, and scope out possible places along the way of your route where you can pull over or stop for the night if the weather is especially bad. Make sure to also pack extra blankets, gloves and toques in case you get stuck in your car or have to wait on the side of the road. If you’re flying, give yourself enough time to make it to the airport, and make sure your vehicle is equipped and ready to be stored outside for an extended period of time. When you’re booking your flights, make sure you have enough time there and back in case your flight is late, and pack a book or game in your carry to keep you and your travel companions entertained if you have to wait for a long period at the airport.

Book as early as possible

Don’t wait until the last minute to book your flight or accommodations! December is a peak time for travel, so be prepared for popular resorts to be busy, and for airlines and hotels to charge higher prices during this time. Get in touch with family or friends you are travelling with as early as possible and decide on the details - when you’re leaving, how long you’re staying, and how you’re getting there. The longer you wait, the more you will have to pay, and the greater the chance you won’t get your desired flight and accommodation options.

Avoid the crowds

Wherever you decide to go, you can be sure that public places like restaurants and shopping centres will be busier than usual. Avoid the large crowds and purchase snacks and drinks to keep in your room so you don’t always have to go out (or spend more money!). Breakfast is also an easy meal to enjoy in your hotel room - you can purchase instant oatmeal, muffins, or granola bars at a grocery store an keep them in your room to eat. This way, you can save money on eating out and not have to worry about waiting for a table at a restaurant or getting there very early to try and get a seat.

Travelling can be stressful at the best of times, but the holiday season is always worse because there is a significant increase in travellers, and everyone is impatient to get to their vacation or see their loved ones. If you’re planning on travelling during this time, start planning early and make sure you’re prepared for any situation, especially bad weather!

No-Stress Halloween Fun!

As October approaches, it’s time to start planning for Halloween activities! Whether it’s a delicious treat to make and enjoy the week before, or an activity to complete at home instead of going door to door on the day of, we’ve got some recipes and examples below on how you can have a spooky and fun time without extensive planning – or an expensive price tag! 

These three ingredient Halloween treats from Chelsea’s Messy Apron are perfect for all the right reasons. Not only do they truly embody the spirit of Halloween, but they are adaptable for any situation. Use either pre-made ingredients for the bases or homemade treats for an extra activity, these treats mean Halloween can be fun without being too complicated. Cookie decorating is another simple Halloween treat that can be economical and relatively simple to put together. This activity doesn’t require much planning – the only thing that you need to do ahead of time is bake the cookies! Veronika’s Kitchen has a recipe for cookies and instructions on how to decorate them with a Halloween spin. However, you can easily pick-up pre-made sugar cookies at your local grocery store. For decorations, you can make and dye your own icing or find other sprinkles and decorations at the dollar store or online.

For craft activities, there are many different ideas that can utilize items you may already have at home. These Paper Plate Monsters from Simply Everyday Mom only require paper plates, googly eyes, glue, paint and construction paper. For these Toilet Paper Roll Halloween Crafts from The Best Ideas for Kids, start collecting your empty toilet paper rolls, and together with a few other craft items like paint, coloured paper, and glue, you can have a collection of Halloween monsters to decorate your home. You can also check out Michaels Canada for Halloween-themed kid craft kits that can be ordered online or picked-up curb side.

Halloween may not be quite the same this year, but there are still many different ways you can enjoy the occasion with your family! Share your Halloween crafts and treats with us in the comments or our social media.