December 14th, 2009 – National Post – Don Mills, Ontario, Canada
It’s the season Charles Dickens describes in A Christmas Carol as “the only time I know of in the long calendar year when men and women seem, by one consent, to open their shut-up hearts freely.”
But head to a crowded shopping mall playing orchestral versions of Jingle Bell Rock on a loop and you might not feel so inclined to open your heart and feel charitable – especially after someone has taken your parking space.
Indeed, Christmas can be a stressful time for many people trying to balance work, family life and all of the obligations the holiday season brings with it.
“Have a budget and stick to it,” organizing consultant and life coach Collette Robicheau suggests. “Going shopping without thinking it through can add stress. It’s easier to stick to a list.”
