‘Tis the season to be jolly - and also a bit stressed out. The extra fun and festivities can bring extra time pressures and obligations. Here are five ways to minimize stress and maximize holiday happiness.
In This Article
Go Big on Gratitude
While a gratitude practice is helpful at any time of year, it’s especially helpful during the holidays. It’s normal to have FOMO when we see holiday celebrations everywhere, and get into a scarcity mindset when we’re overly busy and spending more money than usual. To keep your mind in the habit of appreciation, write out a list every morning of 10 or more things you’re grateful for. This simple act will reduce stress and keep you focused on the true spirit of the season.
Pass on Perfection
One way to stamp out holiday stress is by letting go of the idea of perfection. We tend to start the season with grand plans of everything we’ll do, indirectly putting a lot of pressure on ourselves. Instead of perfection, aim for flexibility. Didn’t get your snail mail cards out on time? Turn to e-cards instead. Hosting a holiday gathering? Not everything needs to be made from scratch. Shortcuts like this won’t reduce anyone else’s enjoyment, but they can reduce your stress level.
Give Yourself a Break
Related to #2, a lot of holiday stress is self-created. You can combat the sense of overwhelm by streamlining your holiday To-Do list. Choose a set of core holiday To-Dos that will give you peace of mind, like making sure your nephew gets his present or connecting for a meal with your best friend, and then let everything else become optional. Spreading yourself too thin is a surefire way to feel the effects of stress.
Simplify Shopping
Gift giving can become a stressor at this time of year. Simplify the process by buying the same gift for multiple people, like giving a copy of your favorite book to most of the people on your list. You can also take advantage of bulk purchases with individual items you can parse out. NextEvo Naturals Holiday Bundles include a variety of wellness gifts in one easy package. You can wrap up CBD goodness for loved ones and even keep one (or two or three) of the goodies to gift to yourself!
Balance Healthy Habits with Happy Habit
Yes, it’s smart to maintain healthy habits like avoiding alcohol, limiting sugar, and keeping up with every workout. But it is the holiday season, and you can reduce stress by balancing healthy habits with holiday happiness. Making small exceptions like indulging in an extra cookie or missing a workout for the sake of spending time with family and friends won’t throw your health off track in the long run, especially if they boost your overall happiness. You can get back on track in January (that’s what the month is for!).
Wishing you and your loved ones a stress-free, happy holiday season!
