Tips for Reducing Holiday Stress

The holidays are nearly here, and while it is a joyful time of celebration, it can also be a source of stress and tension. The holidays and all that can come with them can get overwhelming to the point where we don’t enjoy them as much as we should. Instead of focusing on spending time with family and friends, we get caught up in all the busyness of the season. Here are some tips to help you reduce your holiday stress.

Maintain Your Healthy Habits

Don’t let the holidays be an excuse to stop practicing all the healthy habits you already have. If you go to the gym twice a week, keep it up. Make sure you eat regular healthy meals and not just snack on treats or grab fast food on the way home from work. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep every night so you can start each day feeling rested.

 

Learn to Say No

You don’t have to say yes to every invitation you receive for the holidays. Don’t overload yourself or your calendar. Only attend the functions and parties you want to attend instead of staying too busy and trying to make them all.

 

Set Priorities

Decide what tasks must be done and what can wait until after the holidays. Make a to-do list and use a calendar to help you keep everything on track. Let’s face it; the holidays are stressful enough without waking up at night wondering what you forgot to do the day before. Use lists and a calendar to mark off and rest well each night.

 

Delegate

Just because it needs to get done doesn’t mean that you have to be the one that does it. Ask for help when you need it, whether by having your husband pick up a gift on his way home from work or asking the kids to step up and help around the house a little more. Need goodies for the kid’s school Christmas party? There is no shame in picking some up from the bakery and placing them on a platter.

 

Limit Your Social Media

If you are already feeling stressed about the holidays, then the last thing you need is to be scrolling past the countless perfect social media feeds. Seeing all those “perfect” posts can make you feel like you aren’t doing enough when that isn’t true. If you can’t make yourself stay away, remember that even though it looks perfect, you aren’t seeing what is happening behind the scenes.

 

Focus On What You Can Control

Spend your time and thoughts focused only on what you can control. Is your delivery late? Is the grocery store out of stock on something you need? Don’t obsess about it; those things are entirely out of your control, and there is nothing you can do about it. Stay focused on the positive and keep on moving forward.

 

Take Time For Yourself

You may be busy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take time for yourself. Take a bath, walk, and schedule a manicure or a massage. Do whatever you need to do to take a little bit of time for yourself to recharge. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty vessel and deserve to give yourself a break. Holiday stress is real, so be sure to take time for yourself.

These tips can help reduce the holiday stress you feel this season. Remember that the essential part of the holiday season is spending time with family and friends. Focus on that, know your limitations, and enjoy yourself this year!