Are you having trouble dealing with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season? Well, you’re not alone. This time of year can be stressful for many. Fortunately, there are some ways you can reduce holiday stress and enjoy the festive season. In this article, we will go over several stress-relieving tips.
Keep A Schedule
Staying organized is key when juggling many tasks and appointments during this busy season. Make sure you know what’s coming up in the next few days — then write it all down so nothing falls through the cracks. Keep track of deadlines and appointments so there’s no chance of missing out on anything important during the holidays. You’ll feel less stressed if you have everything under control instead of worrying about what might happen next!
Don’t Expect Perfection
The holidays are a time when many families come together. If you’re hosting a gathering, you may feel pressure to make everything perfect — from the food and the decorations to the gifts — but this can lead to excessive stress and disappointment if things don’t go as planned. Don’t expect perfection; instead, try your best and accept that things will go wrong sometimes.
Accept Help When Offered
Don’t feel like you have to do everything yourself! Let other people know what they can do to help and accept their offers of assistance whenever possible. This will allow you some much-needed time off to unwind before the holidays begin.
Don’t Spread Yourself Too Thin
It’s easy to become very busy during the holidays. You might find yourself with extra work and social commitments that can crowd out your schedule. If you’re feeling overbooked, start by prioritizing what’s most important to you. Figure out how much time you can realistically devote to each activity or task on your list and then schedule accordingly. If something doesn’t fit into your plan, cross it off — but don’t feel bad about it! It’s okay if some things have to fall by the wayside this year in order for other things to be successful.
Set Clear Goals
Don’t just wait until the day of your big event to see if you made it through the holidays without a major meltdown. Instead, plan ahead and write down your goals for the coming year. Write down what you want to accomplish and how you will achieve them and put them where you can see them all year long. If you don’t have any goals, make some for yourself so that when the time comes, you can remind yourself of why it’s important to reach them.
Plan Ahead
A little preparation can go a long way toward reducing your stress levels during the holiday season. Plan your shopping trips, cooking and entertaining ahead of time so that you don’t have to worry about last-minute arrangements. Also, make sure you’re organized enough to keep track of gifts and other items that need to be mailed or shipped (such as purchases from online shopping).
Take time for yourself
Taking care of others is important during this busy time of year, but it’s also important not to forget about yourself. Make sure you’re taking some time out for yourself each day to relax and unwind from all the activities going on around you. If possible, take some time off work or school so that you won’t feel stressed about getting everything done before Christmas arrives!
Happy Holidays! Stay safe and enjoy yourself this holiday season. Hopefully, you will find these ideas useful for reducing stress in your life during the holiday season!
If you are looking to manage your stress this holiday season, our counsellor can help you cope during this hectic time of year.