The Holiday Season is meant to be a joyful time of year, but it can be extremely stressful for many people. You can potentially be a lot happier and enjoy a relaxing Holiday with some simple planning, lack of excess and the proper focus/perspective. Stress taxes your immune system and is detrimental to your health. For this reason, it is extremely important to adopt a more realistic and balanced approach to the Holidays.
Try these 10 easy tips:
1. Make a Holiday Budget — Decide on a budget for Holiday spending, write it down and stick to it! Excessive and impulse spending and the resulting influx of bills is one of the top Holiday stress producers. Pre-planning your Holiday budget can eliminate this added financial stress and is especially important this year with the current state of the economy.
2. Shop Early & Online — Shop early and online to avoid long lines and crowded mall parking lots. Online shopping allows you to shop at multiple stores without running all over town. Be sure to allow plenty of time for shipping and keep a written record of each purchase.
3. Wrap As You Go — Wrap gifts as you buy them instead of leaving all of the wrapping until the last minute. It’s a great idea to buy Holiday presents throughout the year when you see them, especially is they are on sale. Doing this will further illeviate the Holiday budget crunch. Stock up on more economical wrapping supplies by shopping at the after Holiday sales for next year.
4. Ship Early – Avoid long lines at the Post Office by stocking up on stamps and other shipping supplies before the Holiday rush and mailing packages as early as possible.
5. Be Realistic – Try to be realistic about your holiday commitment schedule, your holiday card list and your holiday budget. Think progress not perfection here. Learn to occasionally say no.
6. Think Positively — Remember the Reason for the Season and think about all of the good, positive things in your life at least once a day instead of focusing on the negatives. Gratitude is very powerful and uplifting.
7. Maintain A Sense of Humor – Although we love our families, too much togetherness and a multitude of varying needs can breed short tempers. Try to maintain a sense of humor and a positive attitude. If you need to, take a short “time-out” to center yourself and be at your best.
8. Take Time to Relax – Take a break by setting aside a little time for yourself over the holidays. A little solitude does wonders for stress. Read a good book, take a hot bath while listening to relaxing music, enjoy a crackling fire and some hot chocolate or meditate on the real meaning of the Holidays.
9. Let Nature Nurture – Remember that the best things in life are free. Enjoy life’s simple pleasures by getting out in nature and noticing all of the sights, sounds and scents of the Holiday Season is a great stress [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Season’
Ten Tips For A Relaxing Holiday Season
Whitewater Rafting in Colorado, Setting Up for an Exciting 2007 Vacation Season
The snow is melting. The rivers are swollen with the fresh spring run-off. The current is swift. The waves have grown in size and frequency. This marks the beginning of the 2007 whitewater rafting season on the Arkansas River in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.
The Upper Arkansas River basin received abundant snowfall this winter offering whitewater enthusiasts’ ample water for the upcoming whitewater season. 2007 promises to be one of the best rafting seasons in years as the Rocky Mountain west recovers from drought conditions. Colorado’s rivers primarily depend on the snow pack for their water supply. Peak native run-off usually occurs sometime in late May and June providing the most exciting whitewater opportunities. The Arkansas River is unique among Colorado’s Rivers in that its’ water resources are managed by the “Voluntary Flow Program”. Water is stored in three different reservoirs at the headwaters near Leadville. The entities that own and manage the waters that feed the Arkansas River have coordinated with Colorado State Parks and the Arkansas River’s outfitters to supplement the native flow when the snowmelt subsides. This provides the Arkansas River with enough water late in the season to allow whitewater operations well into September.
The Arkansas River in southern Colorado saw 282,381 commercial rafting visitors in 2006 up 3.97% from 2005. The numbers continue to grow as more and more travelers are realizing this is a sport that anyone can participate in under the direction of a qualified guide and licensed outfitter. The Arkansas River in southern Colorado is one of the most user-friendly rivers anywhere in the world. It offers whitewater rafting trips suitable for everyone. Whitewater adventure trips are a great family or group activity and also appeal to the avid outdoors adventure enthusiasts. Visitors can choose from half-day excursions to multi-day overnight river adventures. The Arkansas provides over 110 miles of whitewater with varying levels of difficulty. Trips range from class II scenic floats to class V extreme trips through the world-renowned Royal Gorge. Many class III trips are suitable for children as young as 6 years old or at least 50 lbs. Size requirements must be met in order to provide them with proper fitting safety gear. The ability to swim well is not required for easier runs. However, it is mandatory for all class IV and above rapids.
Rafting trips are very affordable with prices ranging from $30 to $599 per person depending on trip options and duration. The outfitter provides all river gear and some trips include riverside lunches, or multiple meals if you’re on an overnight trip. It is important to have properly fitted PFD’s (personal flotation device), and helmets. During the peak run-off wetsuits are mandatory as the water temperatures can be as low as 40°. Splash Jackets, heavy-duty windbreakers are also provided to help eliminate the wind chill. During the warmer summer month’s swimsuits are the attire of choice. Sport sandals, water socks, or an old pair of tennis shoes are the suggested footwear. Contact lenses are not recommended. If you [...]
Posted in Discover 
Tags: 2007, Colorado, Exciting, Rafting, Season, Setting, Vacation, Whitewater 
No Comments »Tips on Planning a Caribbean Vacation during Hurricane Season
When one dreams of a Caribbean vacation, sunbathing, water sports, and spending lazy afternoons on a hammock under the trees is what springs to mind. But a hurricane can down the shutters even on those simple pleasures, let alone popular activities like snorkeling and SCUBA diving.
So what is the strategy to plan a vacation in the Caribbean during hurricane season?
• Hurricanes in the Caribbean are more common in the months of August, September and October, though the official season is from June to November. Scheduling a holiday early in the season (June or July) or at the end of the season in November considerably reduces the risk of running into a hurricane while you are there.• Choosing a Caribbean destination like Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Trinidad, Tobago or Barbados is wiser, since these islands are rarely hit by hurricanes.• Check for information on the start of the rainy season in your destination choice – Curacao’s rainy season starts in October, whereas Aruba and Turks and Caicos islands get very little rainfall while in St. Lucia, the rainy season coincides with the hurricane season. • National Weather Service website’s hurricane awareness link gives extended weather forecasts, hurricane warnings or travel advisories,• Book a stay in resorts that offer a hurricane guarantee i.e. allow rescheduling with no additional charge in case the local weather bureau predicts a hurricane during the days booked. It goes without saying that travelers should take the effort to read the fine print to see what the guarantee offers and what is not covered.• Taking travel insurance at the time of travel reservations is a good idea. Rescheduling or claiming refunds would be hassle-free, especially when airports are closed down and flights get cancelled because of a hurricane.
Remember, Mother Nature is unpredictable and a hurricane can change course and hit a vacation destination. To be prepared for such an eventuality,
• Check if your vaccinations are up-to-date and carry a first aid kit and a few days reserve of essential medication • When a hurricane alert is given, contact the local embassy on the island and alert them to your presence.• Check with the hotel reception for hurricane safety procedures and follow their advice – understand that the locals have the experience to deal with the situation.• Keep a copy of your travel documents handy for urgent evacuation.
Great Travel Destinations for the Fall and Winter Holiday Season
With the troubled economy and fears about swine flu, airlines have seen a sharp decline in flight bookings. The airlines have responded by offering deep discounts on great travel destinations for the fall and winter season. As well, hotels are now offering great deals on rooms and food and beverage services. Every day, more travelers are searching online for great flight deals and special travel packages. They are discovering that they can now save a lot of money on some of the best travel destinations.
The best time to travel is the fall and winter holiday season. You can find some great deals on the following travel destinations:
Escape the Cold
For those who want to get a break from the cold and snow, Cuba is a popular hot spot. Cuba has an average minimum temperature of 21 degrees (70F) and a maximum of 27 degrees (81F). On average, there is about 330 days of sunshine per year. The culture, people, beaches, and cuisine makes Cuba a great place to visit. The Dominican Republic has 27 climate zones on Hispaniola and the average temperature in the Dominican is 26 degrees (80F). Florida is another popular vacation spot with the average winter temperatures at about are about 18 degrees. Mexico is a great place to escape the cold. National Geographic rates its climate as the second best in the world. Hawaii is a very popular vacation destination that consists of 6 outstanding islands, a mild climate, spectacular beaches, beautiful rain forests, peaceful lagoons, and inspirational canyons and volcanoes. Every year, Disneyland in Anaheim California, transforms into a Christmas Wonderland with vibrant parades, glittering shows and electrifying entertainment.
Fantastic European Destinations
Germany is famous for its Christmas market with its oldest being Dresden held from November 27 – December 24. Berlin has over 50 markets to choose from. Dortmund features a massive Christmas tree made up of 1,700 fir trees. In Heidelberg, the market is so big that it stretches more than five squares. There is also an ice rink with spectacular views of the castle. France is famous for its food and special Christmas markets. As well, Austria is famous for the Christkindlmarkt on the Rathausplatz.
Winter Ski Fun
Canada is famous for its ski resorts. British Columbia, Quebec, and Alberta are well known throughout the world for their fabulous ski resorts. Aspen, Colorado, in the United States, is world famous for its ski resorts and terrific ski slopes. As well, the annual Winterskol celebration that runs from January 14 to 17, 2010, has many fun filled activities. Another popular event is Aspen Fashion Week.
Golf Vacations
Arizona is famous for its fantastic golf courses. For instance, Club West Golf Club in Phoenix contains 18 holes over 7,142 yards, par 72. California has many terrific golf courses to pick from. For instance, Furnace Creek Golf Course in Death Valley, at 214 feet (65 meters) below sea level, is the world’s lowest golf course
This year, the holidays and winter and fall season have become the perfect time to escape the dreary [...]