The Holiday Season means different things to everyone, but one thing can be certain that sometimes it creates a lot of stress. Whether you’re hosting a huge gathering, traveling, or have a social calendar that is full to the max, stress can be high which can cause us to not enjoy the Holidays as we want to. Here are some tips that you can adopt this season to hopefully help you relax a bit more and enjoy this season!!
Lower your expectations. It’s so easy to create these high expectations of perfection for the Holidays, but realistically things don’t always go as planned. Meals get burned, people get sick, travel plans get postponed, presents aren’t received the way we want them to, arguments happen, weather happens … the list goes on. Remind yourself of what you can control over your expectations and that may help enable you to roll with the punches that the Holidays can sometimes throw at you!
Try some new traditions. Traditions are all well and good, but if they don’t fit within your values or lifestyle - it may be time to try something new. Traditions do create some sort of nostalgia, so you can try to keep the old traditions alive by incorporating some aspect of them into your new tradition. For example, perhaps you always made cookies with your mom every Christmas, but you want to try something different since sweets are EVERYWHERE during the Holidays and you want a memento to look back at instead of another Holiday cookie, so instead you decide to paint an ornament every year. You’re still doing a fun project with your kids, except now have something to look back at. It’s okay to change things up!
Control what you can. This goes for everything in life, but around the Holidays a lot is up in the air. We can’t control it all. So try your best to let go of what you can’t control, and focus on what you can control to ease your stress and enjoy yourself!
It’s okay to say NO. You’ll be asked to do many things and as much as you may want to do all the things you have to remind yourself that you’re human and doing it all will simply burn you out. Be realistic and and choose the things you want to do and say no to the things that you can say no to. It may not make everyone happy - and that is okay, remember that this is self care.
Stay active. Movement secretes “happy hormones” like dopamine which enhances your mood. Get outside, go for a walk, do a quick workout. Moving your body will help you not only feel better but keep you on track with your fitness goals.
Create a happy environment around you. Light some candles, and decorate your home in a way that makes you feel happy and relaxed, not stressed and chaotic. Play music you enjoy that gets you in the spirit of the Holiday season.
Set gift expectations. Create a budget and stick to that budget so you don’t create more financial stress by going overboard with gifts. Have an ideas list going so you’re not scrambling on what to get whom at the last minute.
Volunteer or donate your time. The Holiday season promotes the gifts of giving but that doesn’t always need to be a monetary thing. Your time is a gift. Volunteer at a local food pantry, volunteer to wrap gifts or tell stories at the local childrens hospital. You can purchase unwrapped toys or clothing for families in need. These acts of kindness will not only make the recipient feel happy, but it will also bring you joy as well.
Ask for help. You cannot do it all. Divvy up responsibilities whatever they may be so that you’re not taking on everything. Ask for help where needed and accept that everything is not going to be perfect.
Try to find moments of happiness wherever you can. The Holidays may not be this picture-perfect season as you see in the movies, it rarely is! Perhaps things have changed in your life that you’re currently struggling with, whatever it is try and take the pressure off the “perfect holiday” and do your best to meet yourself where you are and find moments of happiness where you can. Keep those moments close and remind yourself that you’ll get through the storm. Surround yourself with positive people to remind you how great you are.
WIshing you a happy and healthy Holiday Season from our families to yours!
Comments