Have you noticed how many people love the holidays and simultaneously feel super stressed out? It’s a strange mix. We seem to love the season, but halfway through it, we’re overwhelmed and exhausted. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s totally possible to beat stress this holiday season, keeping your sanity and your holiday spirit in tact. Here are seven simple ways to do just that.
- Say no. The easiest way to beat stress this holiday season is say no a little more often. Decide what is most important to you, and say no to the rest. Say no to the holiday tradition that no one really enjoys anymore but you feel obligated to do. Opt out of the cookie exchange if it stresses you out. Say no thank you to the party you don’t have time for. ˆBy saying no to one thing, you’re saying yes to preserving your sanity and spending your energy on things that really matter to you. PS: If you have a hard time saying no, check this out.
- Outsource what you can. You can’t do it all. So get comfortable with utilizing your resources and passing what you can off to other people. Drop your gifts off at one of the mall wrapping stations. You’ll save yourself some time and donate money to an organization in the process. Order cookies for your kids class party from a local bakery. Have groceries delivered if you’ve got too much on your plate. Outsourcing is about knowing your resources, what you’ve really got time for, and the value of asking for help.
- Focus on experiences. That’s what people remember. Think back to your most cherished holiday memories. I bet at least 90 percent of them involve experiences, as opposed to things. People don’t remember whether the house was spotless or whether the food was homemade. They remember how you made them feel. Don’t believe me on this? See the research.
- Make things more casual. This is a super easy way to beat stress this holiday season. Turn things down a notch and embrace casual. Instead of hosting friends for a full meal, have them over for hot chocolate and dessert. Pick up pizza or order takeout. Have a movie night in your pajamas. The holidays don’t need to be fancy or formal to be fun.
- Start early. Do what you can now. I feel like the first two weeks of December usually sneak past us, and then we all lose our minds the last two weeks of the month. Do you what you can now, even if its not due or necessary for a few weeks. You’ll proactively keep your plate cleared off, fighting off stress before it even starts.
- Give to someone else. Giving to others has all sorts of benefits, including increased happiness and decreased stress. Whether it’s paying for the person behind you in the drive thru, buying an extra toy for the gift drive at work, or thoughtfully giving to a family struggling this holiday season, giving to others is a simple way to feel better.
- Stay committed with self-care, particularly sleep. It’s easy when stress spikes to throw self-care out the window. This seems particularly true with sleep. But self-care is one of the things that puts gas in our gas tanks. So when you slack on self-care, you’re reducing your brain’s ability to tackle stress and stay sane. Keep your normal bed time, and keep chugging your green juice.
The holidays don’t have to be stressful. We have a choice in how we handle them. Get serious about these seven strategies, and keep your sanity this holiday season!
PS: Did you like this post? Check out this one as well. Stop Stress In Its Tracks With This Simple Sentence.
