With Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year and Australia Day all quickly approaching, the holiday season always has the potential to be a bit stressful! At this time of year, shopping centres are chaotic; kids are screaming, and fighting over that last Barbie or Lego Star Wars model on the shelf both parents want. It can all be a bit much for some.
Why Is Christmas The Most Stressful Time Of Year?
Over-expectations, family arguments and a lack of money and time are just a few reasons why people get stressed over Christmas. It's also the time of year when everyone comes together under the same roof, which, combined with one or two too many egg nogs, can create arguments and tension - but it doesn't have to be that way.
Event Planner Tip: How Can I Be Relaxed At Christmas?
So how do you enjoy the holidays with a minimum of stress? Well, the good news is you can do quite a few things - such as taking event planning short courses, but we'll cover that at the end. First, we'll offer up a few easily-implemented tips, so you can sit back and eat mince pies like everyone else!
Event Planner Tip: Make A Christmas List...And Check It Twice
The best way to prepare for the holiday season is to start with a list or a calendar on which you'll write everything! Doing so gives you a visual representation of the things you need to do and organise, making it easier to see how much time you have to arrange everything.
Some list ideas include:
- Presents for friends & family
- Getting extra chairs
- Organising holiday Events
- Buying Xmas food
- Finding decorations
Needless to say, your list is likely to be far longer than this one. Once you've got your list written, it's as simple as ticking things off when they're done. That way, you'll see what's left in good time and avoid forgetting anything until the last minute.
Event Planner Tip: Work Out/Organise Your Budget:
Budgets often cause stress, be it in the professional or domestic sphere. You might have noticed that things are getting more expensive lately, so planning how much to spend on what is going to be of the utmost importance. This will help to prevent overspending and the worry that comes with it.
Once you know how much you can afford to spend, you can stick to that budget and quickly get through your shopping. There are plenty of resources and free online courses in Australia that help with money management, so make sure you've got a firm grasp of your finances, as it will help to guide your hand.
Event Planner Tip: Don't Leave Things Until The Last Moment:
Every year, everyone says the same thing, "I'll start my shopping earlier", but as regular as clockwork, a couple of days before Christmas, people are still running around like headless chooks! By starting your festive shopping in the months of October and November, so much of that stress will float away.
Shopping is one of the main parts of the festive holiday, so leaving it until the last minute will drive you crazy! When you see something on special offer and know you need it, just buy it. You'll see lots of specials a couple of months before Xmas so that you can save yourself a ton of stress…and money.
Price Comparison Sites & Apps:
While we're on the subject of saving money, you should be sure to use one or two of the many price comparison sites online to make sure you're not paying too much for presents and groceries. Also, apps like Finder.com are great for identifying upcoming sales and discount deals, so you end up keeping more of your money safe in your wallet!
By doing this work online, you'll spare yourself from the hustle and bustle of shopping malls in the lead-up to the festive period. The offers tend to be better before Christmas, too, as retailers know that demand is lower.
Boost Your Skills With OCA Event Planning Short Courses
Suppose you're looking for more ways to make the festive period one to remember for all the right reasons. In that case, you should consider taking CPD-Endorsed, video-based event planning short courses online that give you the skills to ensure everything goes smoothly. What's more, if you're thinking of becoming a professional event planner, they give you everything you need to do that too!
Forget everything you know about traditional training, as OCA online event planning courses offer a next-level experience that instils a love for learning. To see what we mean, take a look at our Student Study Demo or visit us online today at www.onlinecoursesaustralia.edu.au where you'll find our training library that covers more than 20 industries and 1-to-1 mentoring on every course.
Alternatively, to speak to us about your training requirements, give us a call at 1300 611 404 or email us at [email protected], and we'll do our utmost to support you in any way we can.
