Finding a Balance - Work/Life/School/Holidays

Let's face it...this time of the year can be stressful. Between finals, holiday parties, work, and family, it can be hard to stay calm and stress-free through the holiday season. We've put together a quick list of things you can do to keep the stress at a minimum and enjoy the holidays.

1. Make a schedule and stick to it. Getting everything done can be daunting. If you plan your time wisely, you can avoid a lot of unnecessary stress. Plot a schedule of time for studying, holiday shopping, whatever you need to get done. Plan in small blocks to ensure you don't get fatigued in any one area, or you may find your motivation wavers.
2. Shop online Shopping online will allow you to check prices, find deals and save travel time going from store to store. Many online stores have free shipping deals as well. Take it one step further and ask family members to make a wish list. There are many online wish list tools like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and more that are free and easy to use. This will alleviate some of the stress of trying to find the perfect gift. You'll know what they want and can build off of that if you want to get creative beyond that.
3. Break you study sessions into smaller chunks By breaking your study sessions into small blocks, you'll be able to review the material without it getting overwhelming. Just make sure you start early enough to get through it all.
4. Don't over-commit Just because you get invited to 17 holiday parties, doesn't mean you have to go to all 17. Pick the ones that work for your schedule and won't cause undue stress. Pick one or two where maybe you'll see more of your friends and family so you can get more bang for your buck, so to speak. People will understand if you can't make it to everything, especially if you let them know in advance and are sincere.
5. Don't forget to schedule downtime You need to recharge both your mind and your body. Schedule time to relax, read, workout, bake or whatever eases your mind and recharges your battery. You need to take time to take care of yourself so you don't get bogged down by your responsibilities. It's all about keeping your stress low, so do what makes you happy.
6. Take time off Do you have vacation time stacking up? Use it. Just a few hours here and there can make a big difference. If you aren't in retail, the holiday season tends to get a bit quieter, so you won't be as stressed taking those hours off. If you are in retail or a job that is busier during the holidays, be smart about planning your work/school/holiday schedule. It can be tempting to put in those extra hours, just be sure you can fit it into your schedule.

Remember, take it one task at a time and don't get overwhelmed. Ask for help when you need it and you'll get through the holidays and even have some fun while this season. What are your tricks to balancing your responsibilities this time of year?