It’s here. The holidays. By now, Thanksgiving is long past, presents are probably mostly purchased and wrapped, plans are made and now is when the real stress kicks in. Family, friends, outings, logistics, unhealthy eating, busy schedules, loss of routine, etc. This all has an effect on how we feel, how well we can manage our emotions and how we relate with others. This year, lets work on managing holiday stress.
The holidays are definitely stressful, more for some of us than others, but luckily, we can do something about it. This holiday season, you can stay sane.
How to Manage Holiday Stress
1. Say No: There is already enough going on and taking on too much is a recipe for stress and illness. Practice saying no or finding creative solutions to make the season less stressful.
2. Exercise: Move your body, get some fresh air and take the time to take care of yourself. Consider making family walks, sledding or other outdoor physical activities part of your holiday tradition. Again, take care of yourself and exercise is one of those things that is great not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.
3. Eat Healthy Foods: It’ll be hard, especially if your family loves their sweets. Try to practice moderation with your food choices. Make good choices where you can, but don’t stress too much or you’ll end up feeling deprived and stressed.
4. Sleep: Get plenty of rest. Acknowledge that your schedule will probably be uprooted a bit, especially if you’re traveling, but do what you can to get to bed at a decent time and get enough sleep. Take short naps on days you feel wiped out. Doing too much on too little sleep will make you sick.
5. Ask for Help: You can’t do it all – none of us can. Try to simplify your plans where possible and ask for help when you need it. True self-care includes knowing your limits and not exceeding them.
6. Plan Ahead: Do as much ahead of time as possible. Get your presents purchased and wrapped, prep food, do grocery shopping, etc. The more you can do ahead of time, the less stressed you’ll be on the busy days.
7. Appreciate: Take a moment every day to think about what you have and find time to be appreciative of that. Reminding yourself of all the good in the world can help overcome stress and negativity. This is especially necessary if you have a challenging family to deal with.
Happy holidays everyone and this season, put yourself first. Practice some of these things to make your holiday more joyful and less stressful.
What do you do to relieve holiday stress? Share your thoughts in the comments for others to benefit from. {Photo courtesy of my sister: Merry Christmas Mel!}