It's officially the holiday season! Time for celebrations, shopping, decorating, baking, traveling... The list of fun goes on!
But with all of that activity crammed in just a few weeks, can also lead to a copious amount of stress.
I know I'm certainly feeling the pressure, as my large extended family likes to celebrate a whole week early. I create family calendars for everyone and I still haven't even started! Oops!
So, how do we enjoy the holiday season without feeling completely overwhelmed?
I came up with, what I believe, to be two of the biggest holiday stressors, and a few tips for you to remain calm and bright all season long.
First, we need to address what is specifically causing the stress. Like with anything, you can't fix a problem without knowing what the actual cause of something is.
I think one of the biggest stressors around this time of year is gift giving, or rather, money.
You know how Santa makes a list and checks it twice? You should follow suit (pun intended) and make a list of those whom you actually want to gift.
Feeling pressure to participate in a gift exchange this year? Kindly opt out. Feeling worried about spending money on all of your closest relatives and friends? Scale back, or consider giving a non monetary gift. (More on this topic for a later blog post.)
The point is, gift giving should be fun and joyful. If you're not feeling those things when you look at that person's name on your list, it's time to reevaluate your gift recipients.
Next, set a budget and then stick to that budget.
This one is hard for me. (Just ask my husband about our wedding!) But the truth is, if you know your spending limit and stay within that amount, you will be so grateful that you did! Not only does it put you in charge of your money (hello, power!), but it will save you the financial stress the following month when the credit card bill shows up.
And speaking of which, if you know that keeping a budget is your weakness, try to avoid using a credit card this holiday.
The second biggest stressor, IMO, is probably a few things rolled into one, but this single and simple treatment works for all of them!
The stressors? Being a social butterfly (FOMO is real), being an overachiever (because there are a million things that you MUST get done before December 25th), and family expectations and obligations.
It is no secret that we live in a fast paced world where we are constantly overstimulated and expected to respond to things immediately. Usually those responses are also a resounding "yes" to whatever it is being thrown at us.
Why? Because we want people to like us and we don't want to let anyone down.
In a recent YouGov survey, "92% of Americans say they do at least one out of nine people-pleasing behaviors about somewhat or very often."
Does RSVPing "yes" to every holiday party actually bring you joy, or does it feel like an obligation? Do you really need to bake dozen of cookies and send Christmas cards, or is the Hallmark channel telling you that you should?
I said the treatment was simple, but I didn't say it would be easy. The solution to eliminating your holiday stress this year, is to practice saying "no."
Remember, you are a person, too! You also have needs that need to be met. So, before you automatically say yes to the next invitation or holiday obligation, take a moment to pause and think if this is something that you truly want to do.
My final tip for keeping stress in check this holiday season, is to take care of yourself. (This is where practicing saying no comes in handy!)
Being overly stressed can weaken our immune system, and nobody wants to spend the holidays sick.
Make sure that you are eating whole foods, finding time to exercise (even if only for 15 minutes a day), drinking water, and getting 7-8 hours of quality sleep.
Some of the best foods to combat stress are those that are high in Vitamin B, omega-3 fatty acids, rich in magnesium and protein, and gut-healthy.
Examples of these foods, to name a few, include:
- Fish
- Poultry
- Eggs
- Avocados
- Olive oil
- Bananas
- Broccoli
- Dark chocolate
- Spinach
- Lentils
- Almonds
- Greek yogurt
- Kimchi
- Sauerkraut
Try to avoid or limit your intake of foods that are high in sugar, simple carbs (like pastries and cakes), caffeine, and alcohol.
Of course, the holidays are a time for celebration and you should enjoy your favorite treats. Just remember to do so in moderation.
Some healthy swaps are to try herbal teas and non alcoholic beverages.
I have no affiliation, I just really enjoy an alcohol-free company called Gruvi. They have many delicious NA beers and wines to choose from that make for an excellent substitution. My favorite is their Sangria, but you can check out their selections on their website, www.getgruvi.com.
Do you have any stress-free strategies that are your go-to practices? Did you find any of these tips to be helpful? Share your tips and thoughts in the comments below!
Here's to a stress-free holiday!