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Galway Advertiser 2003/2003_12_18/GA_1812_E1_034.pdf
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Galway Advertiser
December 18 2003
NEWS
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FASHION
BEAUTY
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H E A LT H
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LIFE
MARY
It's exactly seven days away. You still have to get presents for half your family and friends, clean the house from top to bottom, buy all the grocery essentials and organise a makeover that will ensure you look great for the festive party season. How can you achieve all this in a week? And is there a way of doing it with minimum angst? Here are some tips to help get you started. 1. Start by drawing up an action plan and adhere to it with military zeal. Your "to do" list should include everything from buying a new floral arrangement to getting the carpets cleaned or buying presents for your nephews and nieces. Work from your list and don't be tempted to deviate. Tick things off as you get them done, this will give you a sense of achievement. 2. Limit your spending. If you have 20 people to buy for, it is easy to get carried away, especially when time is running out and the shops are packed. Before you set out, draw up a budget and vow to stay within it. Set a cash limit for individual gifts, such as under 10, 20 or 30, depending on your means and don't go above it. Otherwise, you could be ringing in the New Year with empty pockets. Avoid impulse buying. 3. Make a list of what you'll be buying for whom also and where you think you will find it. This will save you time and reduce your stress levels. The best way to avoid giving someone an unwanted gift is to think before you buy. Consider the person's likes and dislikes, hobbies and interests. With a little thought and planning you can please everybody. 4. Early morning is the best time to shop. Avoid lunch-hours unless you want to be trampled. Make sure you have money or else head for your local bank. If you visit an ATM near a shopping area, expect to spend ages queuing. Pay cash, if possible. It is easier to overspend if you use a credit card.
O'CONNOR
Surviving Christmas
7. Start your grocery countdown now. Check the cupboards for food and beverages. Double check you have cream, bread, milk, butter etc for Christmas morning. Other items frequently forgotten are candles, napkins, indigestion products, logs, firelighters, matches and coal. This shopping checklist will ensure you have everything you need for the big day and help you avoid last minute stress. Do all your food shopping in one day, if possible, buying everything except fresh vegetables. 8. Avoid rows. If your family always ends up arguing over something during Christmas, think about inviting a friend or two along - maybe someone who would be alone that day. They will help defuse family tensions and get you into the spirit of the festive season. 9. Resolve not to get stressed. Easier said than done but recognising that the festive frenzy may get you frazzled means you are forearmed. Build in some tension relieving activities into your daily routine both in the build-up to Christmas and during the season itself. These could be as simple as having a bath, reading a few pages of a book or going for a swim or walk. 10. Give y o u r stomach a b r e a k ! Indigestion is synonymous with the season to be jolly. Overdoing the food and drink seems to go hand-in-hand with Christmas. How can you avoid this happening this year? For a start, remember smaller portions and regularly spaced meals put less strain
on your tummy. Try not to eat too late at night, cut down on slow-to-digest fatty foods, such as pastry, meat and chocolate and eat as much fibre as possible. Try not to lie down after eating a big meal, sitting up will help to keep heartburn at bay. Pacing yourself is a good idea too. The festivities can last for a week so go easy on the food and drink. Indigestion is aggravated by smoking, alcohol, pregnancy and being overweight so if you fall into any of those categories, be especially careful.
5. Establish a healthy drinking plan. If you intend to imbibe a bit this year, try to eat a good meal either before you go out or during the evening. Food considerably slows down the rate at which the body absorbs alcohol. Avoid salty snacks, they'll only make you thirstier. Add a low calorie mixer or soda water to white wine or spirits to make your drink last longer. Alternate alcoholic and non-
alcoholic drinks. Set yourself a safe drinking limit and adhere to it. Ignore pressure from drinking partners to take more. Start and end your day with water. Your body loses it while you sleep so drink it before bed and again when you wake up. Remember, alcohol acts as a diuretic and can cause you to lose water through increased urination. 6. Enlist support. Don't play the martyr, doing everything yourself to the point of exhaustion. Get in-laws, partners, children to give a hand. A day or two before Christmas, assign duties to your own family. Little ones enjoy helping out so get them involved. If you are h a v i n g guests over, draw up a detailed c o o k i n g timetable and pin it up in the kitchen. Include in it times to put on dinner, prepare dessert, have drinks, etc. That way you won't forget anything. If you have time to spare and are the organised kind, consider planning menus for the whole of Christmas week.
11. Sleep tight. Aim to get a few early nights before Christmas so you will have enough energy to take you through the season. You'll be glad you did when you are bright eyed as the others begin to wilt when the last cracker is pulled. 12. Get in the mood. Christmas is a special time for children so make sure they enjoy it by being flexible, letting standards slip a little (does the house really have to be spotless before you go to bed at night?) and relaxing your expectations about their behaviour. Expect sulking, rows and a few tears but these will all pass - all the quicker if you don't make a big deal about them. Retain some routine, it makes them feel secure. Allow them to stay up late every other night or a couple of nights a week and stick with the usual night-time bed routine, such as supper and a story for a smaller child.