There can be an awful lot to handle at this time of year when you have a whole family to look after. Yes, we all love the holidays, and it is always a magical time to bring the family together. But we also have to put our heads down and get through the cold, dark, wet months on either side of that precious break in December.
Any parent knows that this is the time of year when you are constantly on guard for the next cold germ that is going to wipe out your entire household for a full week. You also know that this is the time when your workload will suddenly become incredibly frantic because that is what it does every year. And then there is the fact that every household appliance seems to wait until the worst possible moment to break, so we are all keeping one careful eye on our boilers, plumbing and roofs.
In short, this time of year is incredibly stressful for all sorts of reasons, but there are steps that you can take to make sure that you keep your blood pressure levels down at least a little. Here are some tips to help you and your family get through to spring as smoothly as possible.
Make A List, Or Make Several Lists
Some people are more blessed than others when it comes to the gift of organisation. However, it is a fact that you do have a better chance of things running more smoothly if you can start to get things organised in advance. You can start with one of the simplest and most effective things that there is: making a list.
Make sure that every commitment, whether that is a doctor’s appointment or a drink with a friend, is written down somewhere. The next step is communication. When things are truly frantic it can be easy for you and your partner to start falling out of step. Try to keep each other in the loop with any changes or additions to your commitments or schedule.
Get Stocked Up
When it comes to germs at this time of year, the one thing that you know for sure is that your children will get them. You do not want to be caught without cold or flu medication or tissues when your child comes back from nursery or school with a runny nose or a cough. Make sure that you are stocking up on your disaster day supplies for when the entire household is under the weather.
But it’s not just about stocking up your bathroom cabinet with medicine and remedies, you should think ahead to other non-perishables that would be good to have if you don’t have time to head to the shop. This is especially important with the recent news about supply shortages. Start thinking about what you can start getting in for the holiday season now.
Stay On Top Of Your Finances
One of the most important things to do when you are heading into a stressful time is to get ahead of any potential issues. We all know that when it comes to the winter, that means making sure that you do not lose track of where your money is going and making sure that you have enough to keep things running smoothly until the spring.
It would be a very good idea to sit down and start working on a budget spreadsheet that details every incoming and outgoing transaction over the last couple of months to identify any potential costs that you could trim. Start thinking about the costs that you know will be coming up, such as seasonal expenses (dinner and parties out, gifts, etc) and energy bills that will be steeper than their summer equivalents.
If you find yourself in a position where you need to take out a pay day loan, then make sure that you are certain that you can pay the money back at the interest rate and on the schedule the provider has set out. Pay day loans can be a very tricky proposition and you will want to make sure that you understand every element before you commit. Pay Day UK can give you an instant quote with no credit check and no fees, and their loans are tailored to you.
Be Kind To Yourself
When you have a family to take care of, you shoulder a lot of responsibility. It can be easy to start taking on more that you can handle, and when that happens, it can start to feel like you are getting things wrong. The winter is always hard on our mental health, so you need to make sure that you are being kind to yourself. Remember that the last eighteen months has been spectacularly difficult and that we are all dealing with a lot more stress and anxiety than we are used to. Keep talking to your friends and family and don’t be afraid to reach out to a professional if you need to.