It’s the most wonderful time of the year; if only you had a moment to enjoy it. While there are plenty of reasons to cherish the holidays, there are also an overwhelming number of things to do, people to see, gifts to buy, appointments to make and trips to take. All that combined can make your day-to-day stressful, even during this special season.
To spark magic back into the holidays, you need to cut the stress — or at least limit it – and to help do that, here are five tips to simplify your daily routine so you can relax and truly make the most of your holidays.
* Connect digitally. Can’t make it to every holiday party and get together? Don’t stress! Though you may not get to visit everyone in person, you can use the Internet to connect with loved ones. Consider creating a family hashtag like #HolidaysWithTheJoneses to keep track of posts and photos from the festivities. A reliable, affordable connection to friends and loved ones is important, especially during the pricey holiday season and with TracFone, you get nationwide coverage on the largest and most dependable networks in America. Enjoy 90-day no-contract plans with talk, text and data starting at just $19.99 and smartphones starting as low as $10, such as the TracFone LG L15G Sunrise, so you can stay in touch no matter where you are.
* Take some time for yourself. It’s better to give than to receive, but make sure to take some time to give yourself a relaxing treat during the holidays. Enjoy the calming effects of yoga, go to the gym or hit the spa. Taking a step back to focus on yourself makes you feel great and reduces your stress level.
Another way to relax is to read. Be it in bed or by the fire, these books are good holiday reads:
The Collector
A mystery thriller set in Paris that will introduce you the Paris art scene as well. Beautifully written, almost poetic prose, this book is hard to put down once you start reading.
Description:
In the merciless microcosm of Paris art auctions and galleries, some people collect art, while others collect trouble. Marion Spicer spends her days examining auction catalogues and searching for stolen works of art. She is a top-notch investigator when it comes to eighteenth-century art. But for her it’s just a job and her life is well ordered. All this changes when she inherits a huge and very prestigious collection of pre-Columbian art from a father she never knew. There are conditions attached: she must first find three priceless statues. That is when her troubles begin. Her father’s death sparked much greed, and Marion finds herself facing sharks, schemes, fences, traps, scams, and attacks. Her quest draws her into a world where people will kill for a love of beauty.
Montmartre Mysteries (Winemaker Detective)
Another mystery told elegantly from the point of view of our favorite wine expert Benjamin Cooker and his assistant Virgile. Like fine way, the books get better in every new edition and our characters become more alive.
Description
Wine expert Benjamin Cooker travels to the French capital, where his is called to help care for some vineyards in Montmartre, a neighborhood full of memories for him. He stops in on an old friend. Arthur Solacroup left the Foreign Legion to open a wine shop good enough to be in the Cooker Guide. But an attempted murder brings the past back into the present. But which past? The winemaker detective and his assistant Virgile want to know more, and their investigation leads them from the the sands of Djibouti to the vineyards of Côte du Rhône.
Backstabbing in Beaujolais (Winemaker Detective)
The latest edition of the Winemaker Detective Mystery does not disappoint. Our favorite accidental gumshoes wine expert Benjamin Cooker and his assistant Virgile has surpassed another Jessica Fletcher of “Murder, she wrote” when it comes to solving mysteries without all the high tech gadgets of CSI.
Description
A business magnate calls on wine expert Benjamin Cooker to kickstart his new wine business in Beaujolais, sparking bitter rivalries. Can the Winemaker Detective and his assistant keep calculating real estate agents, taciturn winegrowers, dubious wine merchants and suspicious deaths from delaying delivery of the world-famous Beaujolais Nouveau?
* Enjoy a cup of tea. With the constant “go go go” mentality of the holiday season, you may be inclined to reach for coffee; however, researchers have found many relaxing benefits from drinking tea — whether it’s black, green or chamomile. When you do decide to break for a glass of tea, shut out all other distractions and treat yourself to a little quiet time. Even a quick five minute break can leave you feeling reenergized.
* Step outside. Yes, it’s cold, but with shorter days and longer nights, soaking up as much daylight as possible will help stave off the winter blues. It’s good for both mind and body, especially during the busy holidays. Once you’re outside, use this opportunity to spend some quality time with the family by building a snowman or staging an impromptu snowball fight. When you’re focused on having fun together, you’ll remember what makes the holidays special.
* Turn on some tunes. Whether you’re a Christmas carol die-hard or a musical Scrooge, music has an undeniable effect on your mood. Spin your favorite songs to help you get through shopping, travel, gift wrapping and more with a smile on your face. You’ll be dancing to a new beat and those errands will seem a lot merrier.
The holidays can be hectic, but it is also a wonderful time to reconnect with friends and family to celebrate the season. These simple stress-reducing techniques can help you make the holidays truly wonderful. To learn more about how TracFone can help you get through the holidays for less, and keep in touch with loved ones near and far, visit www.TracFone.com.
