The holidays are a time of great joy, gatherings and excitement. Yet sometimes, the festive cheer can also bring stress from overspending, overcommitting or even overindulging. How can you make sure to enjoy this time of year and all of the fun offered? Here are some ideas for reducing stress during the holidays:
Make a Plan
Take a look at your calendar and start the planning process for gatherings. Make sure to give yourself some days off to rest between events. Send out invitations or start family communication to pick a time and place for your celebrations. Once your dates are in place, you can start the rest of the planning such as menus, shopping and gifts. If you haven’t seen it yet – check out our tips for holiday gift giving. Taking care of tasks now will help you alleviate last-minute shopping or errand-running.
Stick to a Budget
As part of planning in advance, make a budget for gifts and holiday spending. This will help you stay on track with your financial goals so you don’t feel you overdid it when your January bills appear. See these tips from USA Today.
Keep It Up
Following the 80/20 rule, which means stick to your usual routine and healthy habits most of the time, say 80%, and then enjoy holiday treats for the remaining 20%. Savor the seasonal dishes and give yourself permission to enjoy them. And then try to eat whole foods as you normally do for the rest of your meals. When possible, exercise or take a walk and stick to your daily schedule like you usually do. Make sure to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
Focus on Similarities
Coming together during the holidays can bring a wide range of opinions and values into the same room. Rather than noting the differences, try to focus on shared interests and perspectives, or even shared memories. When confronted with a difficult or challenging person, try to respond with kindness and remove yourself from conversations if things get tense.
Keeping a balance of care for yourself, while also enjoying the season, can help reduce stress that often comes with the holidays. Wishing you a happy, healthy holiday celebration!
