‘We ate too much.’ ‘Never never home.’ ‘We didn’t get to spend any quality time with those we wanted to.’ ‘Spent too much money.’ ‘I feel exhausted.’ ‘Why do we even bother?’
Avoid Holiday Stress
If you want to avoid that stressed-out feeling this holiday season try implementing some new strategies and avoid some common mistakes. Like many, we tend to let our expectations, poor planning, and over-indulgence get in the way of truly enjoying and de-stressing during our ‘down-time’. The key to success in avoiding the ‘holiday blahs’ is to recognize those activities that energize, motivate, and please us, and to delete or change those activities that irritate, disappoint, and anger us.
Good vs Bad Of Holidays
Holidays provide opportunity for celebration, gift-giving, reflection, tradition, relationship and spiritual renewal, and relaxation. However, they often bring about family tension, crowded schedules, remembrances of lost loved ones, and/or additional tasks and expectations. By determining your goals for the holidays and by staying in control of your overall plan, you can help to ward off excessive stress and have a more enjoyable time all around.
Here are five common mistakes during the holidays that can contribute to stress:
- Overcommitting: Saying yes to every invitation and overloading your schedule with social events, parties, and obligations can lead to feeling overwhelmed and stretched thin.
- Procrastinating: Waiting until the last minute to tackle holiday tasks such as gift shopping, meal planning, and decorating can result in unnecessary stress. Procrastination limits your time and options, increasing the likelihood of feeling rushed and frazzled as the holiday approaches.
- Ignoring Financial Limits: Overspending on gifts, travel, and entertainment without considering your budget can lead to financial strain and anxiety.
- Perfectionism: Striving for perfection in holiday decorations, meals, and events can create undue pressure and unrealistic expectations.
- Neglecting Self-Care: Amidst the chaos of holiday preparations, it’s common to neglect self-care practices such as adequate sleep, exercise, and relaxation. Ignoring your own needs can lead to exhaustion, irritability, and diminished resilience to stress. .
How To Have A Less Stressful Holiday
The first and most important step to a less stressful holiday is to determine the purpose of the holiday? Is it a time to get reconnected, rejuvenated, or for spiritual reflection? Once you have decided this you will be better equipped to make decisions on how to handle your holiday planning.
Beverly’s Top Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating A Stress-Less Holiday:
- Get back to basics and simplify. Are you spending all day cleaning up from the holiday feast – use paper plates.
- Avoid ‘holiday perfectionism’. Thinking, saying, or planning for the best holiday ever can lead to certain disappointment. Be realistic about what you can accomplish and prioritize activities that truly matter to you and your loved ones. It’s okay to scale back on elaborate decorations or extravagant gifts if they add unnecessary pressure. Focus on creating meaningful experiences rather than striving for perfection.
- Plan Ahead: Start planning early to avoid last-minute stress. Create a checklist of tasks such as gift shopping, meal planning, and decorating, and spread them out over several weeks leading up to Christmas. Setting aside dedicated time for each task can help prevent feeling overwhelmed as the holiday approaches.
- Stop and be in the moment. Have you noticed the wondrous sights, sounds, and smells around you or have you been too caught up in the to-do’s to notice? Amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Schedule time for relaxation and self-care activities such as meditation, exercise, or simply taking a leisurely walk outdoors. Prioritize adequate sleep and nutrition to help maintain your physical and mental well-being.
- Acknowledge your feelings. Take into account the losses that you have experienced, but remember to keep your perspective and to talk positively to yourself about the past challenges that you have overcome.
- Ask for help. Remember your ultimate goal for the holiday and get support and assistance from those around you. Don’t hesitate to delegate tasks and responsibilities to family members or friends. Whether it’s cooking, cleaning, or wrapping gifts, sharing the workload can lighten the burden and make the holiday preparations feel more manageable. Remember that it’s okay to ask for help when needed.
- Focus on Meaningful Connections: Ultimately, the holiday season is about spending quality time with loved ones and cherishing meaningful connections. Instead of getting caught up in materialistic aspects, focus on creating memorable experiences together. Whether it’s baking cookies, watching holiday movies, or volunteering in your community, prioritize activities that foster joy, gratitude, and togetherness.
Stay In Check
In the whirlwind of holiday preparations, it’s crucial to remember that the true spirit of the season lies in the moments we share with loved ones. By prioritizing self-care, delegating tasks, and focusing on meaningful connections, we can navigate the holiday season with less stress and more joy and have a meaningful, and fulfilling holiday.
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Contact Beverly about hosting a mental health workshop for your teams on how to deal with holiday stress and the holiday blues. Discover tips to deal with stress and how to build resilience!
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If you have some strategies to share – comment on this posting!
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Additional Postings:
Stress Free Family Holidays Week
Tisn’t The Season To Be Stressed Out