The holiday season can be a whirlwind of excitement, stress, and chaos, and it’s really easy to get caught up in all of the busyness. The endless parties, meetings, recitals, concerts, shopping, and mountains of schoolwork can sometimes take over our lives. It’s easy to become distracted, but it is important to keep our safety our number one priority. Especially at this time of the year. So here is a list of 10 tips to stay safe this holiday season.
Get Your Schedule Straight
Like I mentioned, it is easy to be caught up in your overfilled schedule. So step 1 is to get your schedule under control. A good way to do this is to have a written down schedule, or update a calendar app on your phone frequently. Only attending things that you have written down/scheduled can help cut back on some of the chaos. Rather than impromptu gatherings, prioritizing certain events can help you make sure you’re not spreading yourself too thin.
Have a Ride
Wherever you go, it is important to have a ride scheduled. Whether that means you drive yourself, or grab a ride from a friend, it is important to always have a ride at the ready. It can be really helpful if you need a quick escape, or have a change of plans. Making sure that you have a ride is crucial to staying safe during this hectic time of celebration.
Watch Those Wires
It’s easy to get distracted by the excitement of decorating your home for the holidays, just be mindful when you are putting them up. Watch for frayed wires and check labels for specific directions. Be aware of hazards and make sure you don’t put decorations anywhere that they pose a direct hazard. When putting lights up, say, on your banister, be extra careful of open wires, as they can be a fire hazard.
Leave a Light On
If you plan on staying home at any time this holiday season, be sure to leave as many lights on as you can. Embrace your inner Kevin from Home Alone and make it appear that there are more people in your home than just you. Leaving more lights on in rooms that you’re not in can have the appearance of more people in your home. This is very important whether you are staying home alone for an extended period of time or maybe watching younger children. Either way, more lights is always a safe bet.
Delete The Location
Everyone knows that it’s a ton of fun to post about where you’ve been on social media. It’s great to receive flattering comments and likes from friends and family. But you should think twice about tagging your location on a post. It’s risky to do, especially if the location is a place you visit frequently. Tagging your location has the potential to get you into quite a bit of trouble, especially if you’re not careful. If you still want to tag your location, that’s fine, but maybe consider putting it on a private story/account where it is less visible. Ultimately, the choice is yours, but it’s definitely worth considering.
Package Delivery
If you get packages delivered during the holiday season, it’s very important to make sure that you get them inside as soon as possible. This is especially important with more expensive or valuable items. Package thievery is much more apparent during Christmastime, as more packages are delivered, so it’s important to keep your deliveries safe. This can be done by asking those who are home earlier than you to grab your packages. It’s a safe and simple way to keep your packages safe.
Coats are Cool
To avoid getting sick or injured, it is important to wear proper clothing during the wintertime. Temperatures are starting to drop, and it’s more important than ever to wear coats and hats. Trade out the Crocs for some stylish boots, and give up your baseball cap for a cozy beanie. Although they may be a pain to carry around at school, it’s important to bring a winter coat in the winter, as it helps keep you warm and cozy.
What’s That Noise?
This time of year, it’s important to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. This time of year, especially with all of the cooking and baking, the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors need to be working at all times. A quick change of the batteries and a dusting can do wonders for keeping you and your house safe.
Don’t Blow the Budget
During the holidays, it is easy to want to purchase everything you lay eyes on. Clothes look more appealing than ever, and new snacks look like the best thing you may ever taste. However, it’s important to have some sort of budget. Keep in mind, there is a big difference between restricting and budgeting. If you have a job, be sure that you keep some of your paycheck in a savings account, or just have a designated amount of money that you don’t spend. It’s always good to have a solid amount of money that you have in case of emergencies. It’s also important to only bring what you can spend. If you are going Christmas shopping, consider only bringing cash, and only bringing what you can afford. It’s a great way to save.
Where the Streets Have New Names
A good rule of thumb when you go somewhere new is to be aware of your surroundings. Well obviously, it’s always good to be aware of your surroundings, but have you ever truly paid that close attention? A great idea when you’re in a new area is to always know what street you are on. This is a good way to stay alert and know where you are. It’s always good to have your phone in an accessible place, but not too visible, as that can get you into trouble. Remembering the street names can help you if you get lost, because you are more likely to remember where you have been, and it can be a fun game with family and friends.
