Stress-Free Holiday Tips for Moms

I wrote this post as part of my participation in a blog tour for The Motherhood on behalf of the makers of Children’s MOTRIN® and received compensation to thank me for taking the time to participate. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

The holidays are fast approaching, friends! I’m looking forward to great food, friends, and family. The days leading up to all of the fun can often be stressful for busy moms. Why do the months of November and December seems to be more stressful? Because we have more to do, more places to see, and we’re less likely to remember everything we need to accomplish.

How to have a stress-free holiday

1) Use your planner Invest in a good-quality planner AND use it. If you’re not a “paper planner” record everything in the calendar feature of your cell phone. Tracking where you need to be and what you need to do reduces stress and anxiety.

2) Don’t overspend Your children won’t remember the things they received, they’ll remember the things you did with them. Create a list and a budget – and stick to it! Shop early to save money and beat the crowds. If you shop too early, you might forget where you’ve hidden some gifts. We’re still looking for one from last year!

3) Say No Don’t attend a party just because you were invited. It’s okay to decline. The holidays should be fun and festive. If running from one party to the next makes you miserable, then don’t do it. Just remember to RSVP to let the host know.

4) Ask for Help Hosting a big dinner or having a holiday party, ask for help. Get your children to pick up their toys, have your husband pick up the alcoholic beverages, and order a few cheese plates or appetizer platters from the store. Taking help from others frees up your time to focus on getting everything else ready.

This holiday season, the makers of Children’s MOTRIN® are asking Moms to post their tips and tricks on the MOTRIN® Facebook page under each week’s Kelly Ripa question video and for every post, Children’s MOTRIN® will donate $1 to Safe Kids Worldwide. Safe Kids Worldwide is a global nonprofit that provides moms with the tips they need to help keep their children safe. Moms could even win weekly giveaways of $100 gift cards just for posting.*

What are some ways you are one of the #UnstoppableMoms during the holidays?

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY, OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES & D.C., 18 AND OLDER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Promotion ends 11:59p.m. ET 12/28/14. Sponsor will donate $1 for each approved Submission made as part of the promotion, with a minimum donation of $30,000 and a maximum donation of $50,000. For Official Rules, and complete details, visit www.unstoppablemoms.com. Sponsor: McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. To learn more about Safe Kids Worldwide visit safekids.org.