The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is officially here. And, so is the stress that accompanies it. Ugh! Most people enjoy the season, but no one enjoys trying to manage holiday stress.
There are so many expectations associated with the holidays. It’s no wonder stress levels rise dramatically during this time of the year. There are gifts to buy, parties to attend, parties to host, family to visit, elaborate meals to prepare, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Decorations are expected, there’s all that baking to do, cards have to be sent and charitable causes want your time.
It can be positively exhausting unless you are prepared with a plan to manage it. What’s that? You don’t have a plan? Never fear, I’ve got you covered!
Here are five tips that will help you manage holiday stress:
Decide what you value about the holidays. Before making any plans, before accepting invitations, or before doing anything just because you’ve always done it, think about whether it is in alignment with your values. It’s a simple exercise that guarantees you will not find yourself in a situation you resent. Make this year the one you start making thoughtful decisions surrounding what you commit yourself to. Give yourself absolute permission to do only what you truly want to do. If you just follow one tip, make this the one. It will make all the difference.
Do not procrastinate. Waiting until the last minute to purchase gifts, make travel plans, or even buy ingredients for your holiday meals is an invitation for frustration. Make a list of all the things you must do and buy. Schedule time each day to take care of the to-do’s and the shopping. What this means is that you must commit a specific time in your day to take care of these things. An unscheduled task will not get done. Procrastination feeds stress, avoid it at all costs.
Reexamine your expectations. This is particularly true as it relates to family interactions. If you are expecting only Norman Rockwell moments, you will more than likely be let down in a big way. Take a minute and evaluate your mind picture. Are you imagining family members as you wish they were or are as they are? If it’s the former, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.
You have two options. You can distance yourself from the relatives that drive you mad, or you can take a deep breath, look past the crazy making behavior and focus on what’s good. This isn’t to say you should accept abuse or meanness. But, all families have a history and if we continue to let past transgressions color the present, or focus only on the negatives we may as well give up on successful interactions.
If you get into a situation where you find yourself feeling bad because things aren’t going quite how you imagined, reassess your expectations – were they realistic? Remember, you can’t control other people’s behavior, but you can control your reaction to it. Decide ahead of time that you will focus on what’s good, not what’s bad. That’s kind of thinking will stop stress in its tracks.
Expect delays and lines where ever you go. Remember, everyone is doing the same thing you are. No matter where you go you are guaranteed to have lots of company. The holidays are peak travel times, so airports will be congested. Shopping malls will be packed. And, the post office will be busier than ever.
Realize that what might normally take 40 minutes, say a trip to the grocery store, could now easily take fifty percent longer, if not twice as long. First of all, plan accordingly by padding your schedule with a time cushion so you don’t get frustrated. Next, surrender to the moment. Having a bad attitude won’t make the line go faster, all you’ll do is raise your blood pressure. If you are calm and centered, those around you are likely pick up on that. Think of it as passing on good holiday karma, you’ll be doing everyone a favor.
So, what can you do in a long line to make it bearable? A multitude of things.
- Chat it up with your line mates. You never know who you’ll meet. You may make a business connection, learn about a great restaurant or make a new friend. At the very least, you’ll stretch your comfort zone and practice your conversational skills.
- Read a book or magazine. A paperback book or magazine can be stashed in a purse or a jacket pocket.
- Catch up on news or social media. If you’ve got a smart phone, you’ve got entertainment options galore!
- Play a brain game, like 20 Questions or I Spy. This is great when you got kids in tow.
- Try isometric exercise. They are so easy to do. You know the routine; flex, hold, release. No one will notice and won’t it feel good to get a little exercise in?
- Use the time for reflection. This is actually my favorite. I just spend those minutes breathing deeply and thinking about all the wonderful hings in my life….which brings me to this………
Practice gratitude. If you are reading this, it is very likely that you have much to be grateful for. You may not have everything you want and things may not be perfect, but we all have many things we can be very thankful for. My list includes super supportive parents, a responsible daughter who never ceases to amaze me, a pet who gives me unconditional love, my faith, my friends, and awe inspiring Mother Nature. I could go on and on. There are so many things that make me smile.
Think about what’s right in your world and thank God, the universe, or whoever you want, for all that you do have. At this moment, I am thankful that I get to write about making the the holidays less stressful. Just the fact that I can physically type these words and see them on the screen is more than enough to make me feel an incredible amount of gratitude!
For more help with managing holiday stress, check out How To Stop Holiday Stress Before It Starts (even if it’s started, this will help!). And if your holidays never live up to your expectations, try this simple planning process – you really can enjoy a more joyful season!
Or, better yet, grab the free Less Stress, More Joy Holiday Workshop. It will help you have the best holiday season ever!
