It’s almost the holiday season, a time to be merry and joyful. This time seems like the perfect opportunity to take a break, unwind and have a good time with family and friends, right? On the contrary, making preparations for family coming out of town, making personal travel arrangements, and picking out gifts can be stressful.

According to a study conducted by the American Psychological Association, 38% of the participants indicated a steep rise in their stress levels during the holidays. Another survey that was done by the Principal Financial Group also showed that 53% are financially stressed due to holiday spending.

Despite the disappointing statistics, the holiday season should be enjoyed and can be made less stressful. Here’s how you can do just that.

Plan Ahead

Planning well ahead of time is a sure way to reduce stress during the holiday season. From gifts to cards, travel arrangements, and sight-seeing, everything can and should be planned. 

It is easy to procrastinate because the holiday season may seem far off. But postponing the planning will add up to your stress. Planning will help you focus on the essential things and cut out the unnecessary stuff.

Check And Double-Check

During the holidays, the last thing you want is to find out that the tap is not flowing or your refrigerator is not working. Such mishaps are likely to increase your stress levels. Therefore, check everything thoroughly from the toilet, showers, water heaters, and general plumbing. 

Have a handyman check your plumbing, household appliances, and gadgets so that they are in pristine condition for the holiday season. West LA water heater company can help you double-check and fix your water heater. 

Another thing to pay close attention to is travel arrangements. This is one of the things that can change at any time and affect your entire schedule for the holiday season. 

Whether you are traveling with friends, or your family is traveling to come to be with you, you should continuously check in with the travel agency to make sure everything is intact and make quick alternate decisions when things are not. 

Buy Early And Stock Up

It is always advisable to start shopping early and stock up for the holiday season to avoid delayed gifts or sold-out stock. A recent survey by Coresight Research revealed that more than 25% of shoppers are expected to start their holiday shopping much earlier than usual. 

This is a trend according to the survey that goes back almost a decade. This makes a compelling point to start shopping early and stock up for the holiday season.

It doesn’t matter what you’re shopping for, whether it’s gifts, food, snacks, drinks, or even Christmas trees – do it ahead of time. If not you risk buying them when they are out of stock and when prices are sky-high.

Spend Quality Time with Friends and Family

One of the reasons we love the holiday season is the time we get to spend with family and friends. However, for some time now, the time spent with family and friends has reduced quality. 

Several people can gather in one place, but there will be little to no interaction, and you may find everyone looking into one screen or the other. Phones, tablets, and TV have reduced the quality of time that the family used to spend together.

To prevent this, try to find fun things to do together. For example, you can engage in craft-making, checking out the lights, or playing in the snow. You could also eat dinner together, afterward, watch a Christmas movie and then have a game night afterward. 

This will go a long way to strengthen the bonds you have with each other. Additionally, during conversations, try to avoid difficult topics such as politics. Instead, reminisce on the happy times you have had together or better still, create new memories.

Make New Traditions

A great way to let off some steam is by forming Christmas or family traditions. There are several Christmas traditions that you can adopt as a family. They include picking out a new ornament, making a gingerbread house, watching a tree lighting, or ice skating outdoors.

Put Yourself First

If you don’t have family coming over and you don’t have many friends, you could get selfish and put yourself first. You may have worked for the whole year, without making ample time for self-care. Take this opportunity to rejuvenate or do something you really like and focus on having a good time.

Check Your Expenses

A significant stressor during the holiday season is related to all the spending, as truthfully, the season has become extremely commercialized. Most people spend a substantial amount during Christmas – mostly from their savings, credit cards, or from funds meant for other purposes. Therefore, consider what your finances will look like after the holidays before going on that spending spree.

During holiday time, we all like to stock up on peppermint. It’s terrific for using seasonal baked goods and it gives the air a refreshing kick that reminds us of the happiness that comes this time of year.

But peppermint has many applications that make it terrific to use year round. It can be used to flavor foods, as a fragrance or rub, and it has been shown to have wellness boosting health benefits.

After the holidays, if you still have some in your closet, here are some fun ways to use peppermint throughout the year.   

Fun Ways to Use Peppermint

Relax After a Long Day: When you come home from a stressful day at work, peppermint is the perfect way to unwind. Dilute 4 drops in a carrier oil, then rub it on your forehead, temples, and the back of your neck. The soothing sensation will take you away.

Infuse the Scent in Your Carpets: Do your carpets need a quick freshen-up? Try blending 20-30 drops of peppermint oil in with a cup of baking soda. The fresh scent will infuse the room.

Boost Your Breath: Feeling sensitive about your breath? Use a peppermint spray or mint so you can feel confident.

Take a Peppermint Bath: Another great way to relax is to take a peppermint bath. Put a few drops directly into your bathwater and look forward to a stress free soak that invigorates your body, soothes your muscles, and helps you focus.

Add Peppermint to Baked Goods: There are so many sweet recipes you can make using peppermint. Peppermint chocolate cookies, peppermint ribbon cake, and peppermint white hot chocolate are just a few that come to mind.

Invigorate Your Scalp: Take your morning shower to the next level by putting a few drops of peppermint into your shampoo. Massage the shampoo in to get an invigorating kick that’s better than coffee.

Add Zing to Your Water: Give your water an extra kick by adding a few drops of peppermint oil. It’s a great way to energize in the middle of the day or during a workout.

Make it a Massage Oil: Peppermint is great for soothing sore muscles. Mix it with some cocoa butter and rub it into the skin to feel the pressure melt away.

The Best Peppermint Products

While essential oils are generally safe, some are made with synthetic oils that can affect the purity of the product. That’s why it’s so important to purchase your peppermint from a brand you can trust.

NOW Foods has been in the healthcare industry since the 1940’s and they have made a name for themselves as a brand you can trust. Their Peppermint Organic Essential Oil is purity tested and quality assured. It is steamed from the plant’s leaves to give you an energizing experience every time.

If you enjoy a great minty smell, there are plenty of fun ways to use peppermint all year round. How do you like to incorporate it into your everyday routines?

The probate process begins after death and is the process of distributing a person’s estate. Even if there was a will the probate process still happens. The length of time probate takes can vary depending on state, but with COVID-19 slowing down processes it is taking upwards of six months in most states. Probate can also be an expensive process for people if they choose to hire a probate attorney to walk them through the process. However, there are ways to avoid this time consuming and expensive process. Avoiding probate could allow beneficiaries and heirs to gain access to their inheritance quicker.

Living Trusts

A living trust is one way to work around the probate process. Living Trusts are similar to wills in the sense that they detail how an estate should be divided, but living trusts are valid before death. The purpose of a living trust is to allow an easy transfer of assets through bypassing the legal process of probate. The creator of the living trust would still have control over the property but would name a successor(s) to take over control once they die.

Disadvantages of a Living Trust

While living trusts come with the advantage of skipping probate, there are disadvantages as well. There is a cost associated with living trusts, which could be lower or similar to probate court fees. Trusts can also be more complex to draft when compared to wills and there are no tax advantages to having a living trust. While a living trust is supposed to expedite the process of beneficiaries receiving their inheritance, this option could be time consuming if the beneficiary has to make repeated requests through the trustee for their inheritance.

Transfer on Death Deed

A transfer on death deed (TODD) is another way that the probate process can be avoided. This option is a simple and inexpensive way to ensure an estate is passed on to the beneficiary when the primary asset of the estate is real estate. A TODD can designate ownership of an asset to an heir which would then be transferred to the beneficiary upon death. The benefits of a TODD include: the option to void the document at any time before death, the heirs avoiding probate, any tax benefits of keeping the home, and little risk involved.

“A TODD can be a great way to help avoid probate while also gaining additional benefits” said Attorney Paul Romano of Romano & Sumner. “A TODD is a low-risk way to pass an estate to a beneficiary, but it doesn’t come without its downsides. If you are considering a TODD for your estate planning needs, an estate planning lawyer can help you evaluate this option and determine if it’s right for you.”

Disadvantages of a Transfer on Death Deed

While a transfer on death deed is a viable option for ensuring heirs get their inheritance in a timely and inexpensive manner, there are disadvantages. This can include the requirement for proof of ownership before creating a TODD. Also, if a person becomes incapacitated or is not of sound mind, they cannot revoke the TODD. A spouse that is not on the TODD would also have no legal claim to the to the portion of the property belonging to the deceased spouse.

The “Best” Solution

While there is no single best way to save your heirs time and money when it comes to gaining access to their inheritance, the best solution is to explore all your options with an attorney. Every estate is different, so what works for one family might not work for you. Contact an attorney today to see what options would be viable for you.