8 Tips for a Stress-Free and Enjoyable Christmas Holiday
The holidays are the perfect storm for stress, thanks to the combination of high expectations, over-scheduling, overspending and scant self-care, it’s no wonder so many of us dread the holiday season. But while the holidays can be challenging, you can enjoy them your way.
Here are 8 tips to help you have an enjoyable, and fairly less stress holiday.
1. Adjust your expectations.
Stress has been described as the difference between our expectations and reality. For instance, if you’re expecting your family to suddenly shelve all their conflicts just because it’s Christmas, you will probably be disappointed. There you go, stress comes in.
The more rigidly attached we are to a particular outcome, the more likely we are to be disappointed, and this can apply to family relationships, money, and even the food on the table.
The good news is that while we cannot control our families or friends or many other factors related to this holiday season, we can control our expectations.
Create an honest assessment of your family, your circumstances, and your plans. Then see how you can create more realistic and flexible expectations.
2. Plan ahead for self-care.
It’s precisely when life has the potential of getting stressful that we need to stick to our self-care practices. Schedule in time for pleasurable things like time to yourself, a book to read, a holiday pass to the gym, a phone call with a long-distance friend, or even watching movies on TV.
3. Learn to say “NO.”
If you don’t have time to do something or you don’t want to, kindly decline the invite or request. If you are miserable and stressed out, you aren’t helping anyone but making everybody miserable yourself. It will affect evreryone tha you may regret in the end. You should know yourself better. If you know your body can do it, just say “NO.”
4. Focus on the present.
Instead of worrying about the future or anguishing over the past, remain in present time being fully immersed in whatever you are doing.”
Whether you’re baking, writing out cards, wrapping presents, traveling or taking a walk, focus on the present. Being mindful of the moment helps you reduce stress and feel more at peace.
5. Pitch perfection.
“What you think about, you bring about.“. That’s why we suggest readers focus not on perfection , which is impossible anyway, but on pleasure.
For instance, enjoyment comes from simple camaraderie, It doesn’t come from agonizing over details, which most people don’t even notice, and even if they do, so what?
6. Tone down parties.
If planning a big party brings big stress for you, then make it smaller, simpler and add more quality instead of quantity.
7. Reschedule parties for the new year.
To ease tight schedules, you want to extend the fun by hosting a “Winter Festival” party in January. This is a good option if you’re downsizing a holiday party but still want to have a bigger get-together later on.
8. Be flexible.
If you have conflicting schedules and are crunched for time, brainstorm creative solutions. Alternate which family members and friends host the get-togethers. Instead of buying a gift – and a pricey one at that – for everyone, draw names. And consider volunteering at a local shelter.
If the holidays are hard for you, you’re not alone. It’s okay to grieve for what you don’t have at the holidays.
Just remember, You absolutely deserve a holiday that is sane and grounded in love for yourself. Reclaim those rituals that you have been participating in but begrudging, and give yourself permission to participate on your own terms this year. Be free from stress. Enjoy your holidays!