Are you feeling the pressure of the holidays already? With Thanksgiving and the wild Black Friday behind us, it’s officially crunch time before Christmas and immediately following, New Year’s Eve. Whether you celebrate these holidays or not, you are likely going to get together with loved ones at some point over this holiday season and while it’s an exciting reunion, it also comes with its own stress from the change of pace.
You have to plan out and help cook meals, potentially host visitors in your home, provide gifts to your family, and decorate your home to set the mood for the celebrations. It can get overwhelming in a hurry, especially if you are already busy with life’s daily activities of work, staying healthy, family and children, and other commitments.
You can get through the holidays with little to no stress by following a few tips that will help you keep the stress in check. Take a look at these five techniques to take the stress out of your holiday celebrations.
Put your devices away
It may seem like the perfect time to share your holiday photos on social media, check out your friends’ updates, and stay in touch during this social month. Really what you should do is put the devices away and enjoy the company you’re with in the present.
All of the notifications, text messages, and phone calls are just going to distract you from relaxing with the company you’re with. Instead, turn off the gadgets and check in at a later time. You might find that your New Year’s resolution is to take time away from your devices on a more regular basis because of the stress reduction it allows.
Enjoy the party
Whether you are hosting or attending, sometimes that loud music you love is the perfect way to de-stress. You can put it on while you clean and decorate the house, while hosting dinner, or while attending another party. You’ll find that you may start to feel the music and your blood flow will increase while you feel calmer than ever.
Laugh with your loved ones
If you are worried about how the interactions will go, come up with an activity that will encourage laughter and fun. The best medicine to stress right now is laughter, and a great way to encourage it is through funny games, hilarious Christmas sweaters, and nights out enjoying a comedy show. Make this the time to laugh a little more because you’ll need it!
Give yourself a break
If you’re naturally a perfectionist, let this be the time of year that you give yourself a break. You already have more on your plate than normal with decorating the house, selecting and wrapping gifts, and attending holiday parties with family, friends, colleagues, and more. This is the time to avoid trying to strive for perfection and instead, realizing that the company around you doesn’t care about the details. Be willing to slow down some, cut down on the amount of projects you had planned, and try to enjoy the ride.
Exercise and rest
Lastly, believe it or not, this is the time to incorporate more physical exercise and more relaxation. The exercise will put you in a great mood and make you stronger for all of the work that’s ahead. Try jazzercise or another fun workout like a sleigh ride with the kids and watch as your mood boosts all day long.
On the other hand, it’s the perfect month to take a 4-day weekend before the festivities to let your body and mind relax and re-cooperate. Get the house ready, the decorations up, the parties planned, the gifts wrapped, and then take a mini vacation before attending all of these events. You’ll look and feel refreshed during all of these exciting gatherings that will allow you to make memories for a lifetime.
These five techniques are a sure way to take the stress out of your holiday season.
