Seven Simple Tips for Safer Holiday Travel

More families travel long distance to visit with friends and family during the holiday season than during any other time of the year.  Keep yourself and your loved ones safe this holiday by following these seven simple tips for safer holiday travel.

Before starting out, make sure your vehicle is properly tuned and mechanically sound.  Consider having a mechanic inspect the vehicle for potential problems so they can be corrected before they become BIG problems on the road. 

Timing is everything!  Try and steer clear of high density traffic by planning your route carefully and coordinating your departure time to avoid high-use areas such as large cities and major interstate highway exchanges during peak traffic hours.

Know your route.  Don’t rely strictly on GPS guidance- familiarize yourself with your driving directions and plan alternate routes in case of an emergency, detours, or traffic jams.

Don't drive drowsy!  More than 30% of fatal accidents occur during the early morning hours and often involve only one vehicle- often the result of driver fatigue. Keep your family safe overnight with a comfortable room at an affordable hotel.

Don’t rush.  Allow extra time for your travel than necessary so you can slow down, reduce your stress level, and remain alert while driving.  Excessive speed is a factor in most fatal automobile accidents.  Remember that it is better to arrive at your holiday party late than never at all. 

Avoid dangerous driving conditions.  If bad weather is looming with snow or ice projected to impact roadways along your route, consider postponing your travel plans, revising your departure schedule, or altering your route to avoid these hazards.  

 

Remain mindful of basic safety protocol: buckle up, keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road, remain a safe distance from other drivers, and never, EVER drink and drive. 

By applying these seven simple tips for safer holiday travel and by observing proper safety protocol and driving regulations while on the road you can hope to enjoy a safe and happy holiday season with your loved ones both near and far.

Top 10 Ways to Beat Holiday Stress

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and “The Holidays” aren't far behind.  If you’re like most people in the Hudson Valley, holiday stress can significantly impact your enjoyment of the season.  With the family on their way, holiday parties to plan, gifts to buy, and endless cooking and cleaning, stress can quickly add up for a less than happy holiday. 

The Hudson Valley has so much to offer throughout the holiday season that we shouldn't let stress get in the way.  Take a look at our Top Ten Ways to Beat Holiday Stress, and learn some effective techniques to keep your holiday woes in check.

Top Ten Ways to Beat Holiday Stress

10. Breathe Easy!

When holiday stresses mount, our bodies can react with a fight or flight response which includes excess muscle tension and increased breathing rate.  Practice this deep breathing technique and short-circuit your holiday stress.

• Recognize that a situation is triggering your stress symptoms. 

• Make a positive affirmation.  For example "I can do this" or “Be calm.”.  Affirmations counter the typical negative thoughts that may accompany stress. 

• Take an easy, deep breath. Imagine this diaphragmatic breath coming up through the soles of your feet and filling your abdomen.  

• As you exhale, let your jaw go loose, unclench your teeth, and allow your shoulders to relax. Imagine a wave of warmth flowing through your body.

9. Get Your Groove On

Listening to music while decorating for the holidays or preparing for company can be a great stress reliever by providing a mental distraction, reducing muscle tension and decreasing stress hormones. Crank up the volume and let your mind be absorbed by the music, not by your to-do list.  

8. Start a Holiday Journal

Writing out your thoughts can be a good release for otherwise pent-up emotions. Don't think about what to write — just let it happen. Write whatever comes to mind. No one else needs to read it, so don't strive for perfection in grammar or spelling.  Once you're done, you can toss out what you wrote, or save it to reflect on when stresses mount next holiday season!

7. Go to Bed!

Stress often makes getting quality sleep difficult. Your sleep can suffer when the stress of holiday party planning leaves you with too much to do and too much to think about.  But missing sleep prevents your brain and body from recharging, and can adversely affect your mood, energy level, concentration and overall functioning. If you experience trouble sleeping, make sure that you have a quiet, relaxing bedtime routine, listen to soothing music, and stick to a consistent schedule.

6.  Visit the Spa

There’s no better way to melt away holiday stress than treating yourself to a soothing soak in a spa Jacuzzi followed by a relaxing massage.  The Hudson Valley Resort’s spa facilities offer the perfect ways to ease your tension, revitalize your spirit, rejuvenate your mind, and regain a true sense of well-being and relaxation.  

5. Delegate, and learn when to say no!

You can’t do everything yourself, at least not without paying the price. Learn when to say no, and effectively delegate tasks.  Taking on too much at once may prevent conflict, but it can also lead to stress, anger and resentment when your needs and the needs of your family get lost in the holiday hustle. 

4. Try Yoga

Yoga is becoming an increasingly popular stress reliever.  Yoga brings together physical and mental disciplines to achieve peacefulness of body and mind, helping you relax and manage stress and anxiety. Try yoga on your own or join a class.

3. Laugh it off

A good sense of humor can’t cure what ails you, but it can definitely make you feel better- even if you have to force it through your holiday grumpiness. Laughing lightens your mental load and actually causes positive physical changes in your body. So read some jokes, tell some jokes, watch a holiday comedy or hang out with your funny friends.

2. Get Moving!

Virtually any form of exercise or physical activity can act as a great stress reliever. You do not have to be an athlete or even in great shape. Physical activity pumps up your feel-good endorphins and refocuses your mind on your body's movements, improving your mood and helping your holiday stress fade away.  

1. Let someone else do all the work!

Give us a call, and we’ll take care of it all!  Planning your holiday party at the Hudson Valley Resort is the easy and affordable way to beat holiday stress!  With over 41,000 sq. ft. of versatile meeting space, banquet halls, performance venues and ballrooms, there's no better place to share the holiday spirit with your friends, family, or coworkers! 

Our professional event planners are with you every step of the way to help create the perfect holiday party this season, and our world-class catering team can custom tailor your menu to suit your group's tastes and holiday wishes.

Gracefully set on more than 400 wooded acres in the heart of the Shawangunk mountains, we're perfectly situated just 90 miles from NYC, just over the river and through the woods!

From intimate to grand scale, we'll work with you to create lasting holiday memories which suit your tastes and your budget.  So give us a call and find out just how easy and affordable your holiday party can be at the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa!