Ways to manage stress during the holiday season
The holidays are approaching and there’s so much excitement and so much to look forward to.
There are decorations to put out, food to be cooked, cozy time on the couch watching Christmas movies, and even time off from work and school! It’s all so exciting.
Though we have tons of great moments to look forward to, there is always the expectancy of stress that comes from all of the festivities and even from our long to-do lists.
If you’re big on holiday festivities, it can get pretty hectic for you.
Well, don’t let the stress steal your holiday joy!
Let’s talk about five ways to manage stress during the holidays.
1. Don’t take on more than you can handle
We all have duties during the holidays. It may be your turn to host the family at your home, or you may be asked to cook a dish you’ve never prepared before.
Whatever the situation, if you feel like you can’t handle it then don’t do it. It’s okay to say no or to ask if someone else can do the task. Delegating tasks has its benefits.
If you take on a lot, knowing you really can’t handle it, you’re only asking for stress to knock on your door. Try to notice when you are putting yourself through a lot and make adjustments as you can.
2. Do less, enjoy more
A lot of times during the holidays, we can go overboard with the number of things we do. We have shopping, cooking, sending cards and attending events, just to name a few.
Those things can make your task list long, especially if you are doing it on your own. This may even cause problems for you and others around you.
Honestly, if you want to watch a movie with family or dance to your favorite Christmas playlist, do it! The goal is to spend more time doing things that make you happy and less of things that overwhelm you.
That’s what the holiday season is supposed to be about, right? Try not to enlist too much pressure on yourself during this time. Find ways to do less and enjoy more.
3. Forget perfection
This may be a hard task for some, especially those who just have to have everything done right whether it’s the holidays or not.
It can be a challenge to just let things roll when you are used to making sure everything is ‘perfect’. The reality is, there is no perfect. Life is unpredictable and very much flawed at times!
Instead of trying to make things perfect, focus your energy on doing the best you can with what you have. You don’t want to be a perfectionist who just has to have everything go as planned, because you’ll just end up being disappointed.
4. Embrace whatever happens
Again, some things just won’t go as planned. That’s okay. The stuffing may brown a little more than you expected or the gift you wanted for your friend was sold out at the store.
Let me just say, please don’t have a mini-breakdown because dinner is made a few minutes past the intended time or the house got a little junky because your kids were being kids and pulled a few things out of place.
Does that mean the holiday is ruined? No, absolutely not.
It just means that you may have to make adjustments or changes.
Let’s face it, there are many things that could go wrong, but the important thing is to remain focused on the things that went right. You have family, friends, and loved ones who are wanting to enjoy this time you.
Don’t dwell on what went wrong, instead, embrace whatever happens during the holidays!
5. Give yourself space
Nothing says stress-free like having space for yourself.
You need some time for yourself during this busy season.
Sure, I know you may be thinking, “Wouldn’t that be selfish of me to give myself space?”
Nope. Don’t look at it as being selfish. Give yourself space to just be and engage in self care so that you can be ready and able to tackle what comes your way this season.
It’s okay to take care of yourself to make sure you are feeling your best. If you are doing too much or if you are feeling overwhelmed, take some time for yourself.
Your body will love you!
Your turn
I hope this post did what it was intended to do and that was to inform you of the importance of prioritizing yourself during the holiday season so that you can avoid stress.
These times are difficult for a lot of us which causes natural stress to become elevated but you can get through it. Remember to check in on your loved ones and friends during this time and take care of yourself.
I’d like to hear about your plans for the holiday and how you plan to stay stress-free. Let me know in the comments below.
How do you plan to remain stress-free during the holidays?
