November Already!?
It is hard to believe that we are already in November, summer has long gone and we are now closer to Christmas (48 days away) than we are Labor Day (65 days ago). Daylight Savings Time has now ended and the sun sets before half of us even leave work. Initially it is a little depressing for it to be dark more often as days become shorter and to know that summer is over; however, November is the start to a whole new set of events and days to look forward too.
Thanksgiving
If you have not made holiday plans you really should start ASAP. It is hard to believe but Thanksgiving is only 15 days away. You should have already begun to see the signs. Christmas decorations and themed sales have started in almost every mall and retail store. Local grocery stores and food providers have removed Halloween candy and started to advertise turkey’s and other common side foods. So hopefully you have received an invitation to a Thanksgiving party or dinner by now, if not, there is no need to panic. The most important thing about Thanksgiving is spending it with loved ones. So if you are not sure what to do simply ask your closest friends and family, many of them will likely be happy to have you. If you have multiple offers it is time to make a decision. It is always nice to be invited, but you cannot be in multiple places at once. A quick RSVP is always appreciated by the host, just remember to ask if you should bring anything. If they say no, insist. Thanksgiving is about sharing, and it is important to contribute to enhance everyone’s experience; at the least, bring a simple gift for the host.
Shopping Season
Shopping during the holiday season, for gifts or for yourself, can be a whole lot of fun but it also can be a stressful. There will be constant advertisements from stores offering some great deals, but they also offer headaches. These stores are hoping to be as busy as possible and claim to offer great service. Even though many of these stores attempt to offer high quality customer service, major companies and retailers are making it harder for individual people to provide these experiences. Online shopping has changed how American business works. This has led to stores cutting back on help in favor of shipping out online orders. The best tip I can give anyone while shopping is to be patient. Most companies, online and brick and mortar, will be willing to help you. If you are patient and friendly you are more likely to get better help. Would you want to help someone who is rude and impatient? Customer satisfaction is important to almost any store or company. So, if you must wait for a few minutes for a sales associate or a call center representative, be patient. They will likely be very accommodating when they help you in turn.
Christmas
As stated earlier, Christmas is only 48 days away. It is now time to plan your holiday schedule. The first thing you need to do is decide if you are traveling for the holiday or if you are staying home. It is time to book your flight and make your housing arrangements now. Waiting until the last minute will likely cost you a lot more money. As space at hotels dwindles and flights fill up the prices will increase. In addition, you do not want to wait until the last minute to request time off from work. Some offices and companies are closed for the holidays (which must be nice) but many others remain open. These companies will not function if everyone is trying to take vacation at the same time. So talk to your boss and see if you are able to take time off and when. Celebrating the holidays early or late can be a great idea if you have trouble getting Christmas week off of work. Often times, flights and hotel prices will be cheaper. The demand for Christmas week vacations is very high and the price tag for taking them matches the demand.
New Years
It is hard to believe that we are less than 2 months away from 2019. Time moves slow at times but when you look back and reflect it really moves too fast. So much has happened since January 1, 2018 and plenty will still happen before the year ends. However, the end is quickly approaching. Once again it is time to plan your New Year’s Eve. As stated earlier, it is better to plan now so you can make sure you have everything taken care of to allow you to celebrate. Now is a great time to reflect on the past years and even the goals you set for yourself at the start of the year. It is not too late to complete them or even start some you might have lost track of. Only one thing is guaranteed, time will keep on moving and 2019 will be here before you blink.
The last two months of the year are action packed and can be a lot of fun and can also be very tiring, both mentally and physically. Just remember what you need to do and plan accordingly and enjoy the moment. Do not dwell on what cannot be controlled and remember to enjoy all the wonders that the last two months of the year offer.