The holiday season are supposed to be “the happiest time of the year”, however, for some, it could be considered the most stressful time of the year. During the months of November and December, people all around the world partake in traditions such as decorating the house, baking gingerbread cookies, and buying loved ones presents – all-while juggling their already packed work and family schedules.
The joyfulness of the holidays can easily bring about tough past memories and situations for some people. With this in mind, I want to share some ways you can destress and get through rough times this holiday season.
If you add holiday stress management to your agenda, you’ll have a more pleasant holiday season this year!
Here are the best ways to de-stress yourself during the most demanding and busy time of the year.
Set Your Priorities
Before you become overwhelmed by the continuous build-up of holiday activities, it is vital to decide which holiday traditions will positively benefit you the most. If you enjoy going ice skating with your friends but dread the annual family visit to Uncle Jack’s due to differing lifestyle views among your family members, then you may want to rethink your priorities. Begin this process by picking a few of your favorite holiday activities to partake in and skipping the rest!
Deep Breathing
Sometimes, as human beings, we become so engulfed in the whirlwind of the holidays that we forget to breathe. Deep breathing is a great way to, not only provide our bodies with the proper amount of oxygen it needs to perform accurately, but to also meditate! Setting aside 10 minutes every day, in order to perform some cleansing and meditating breaths, can greatly diminish your level of negative stress in a matter of minutes.
Address Holiday Money Expectations
For some individuals, the holidays may only represent a stressful time when their bank accounts are emptied, and their monetary issues worsen. If your gifting budget requires you to cut back on spending, or you just want to aim for a gift-less holiday, then the best thing to do is address this change that you’re making and tell your loved ones about your decision! Maybe have a family sit down and explain the benefits associated with buying fewer (or no) holiday presents or explain your need for a more emotionally connected holiday, rather than an economically associated holiday.
Allow Yourself to Grieve
The holiday season may represent an unhappy and solemn time of the year for lots of people. Maybe you lost a loved one this year or you are currently going through a break-up. No matter what the situation is, you must allow yourself to celebrate the holidays in any manner you feel is suitable. Remember that happy and lovely memories of past holidays can be looked upon in remembrance but cannot be duplicated. Allow yourself to miss and grieve your loved ones, while also trying out new traditions.
The holidays can often be seen as time for fueling the selfless side if our being and giving to others. However, for some, it is a time to be selfish, specifically, when it comes to taking care of your wellbeing.
If you know that the holidays are a stressful time for you, then you must take action, plan accordingly, and remember to schedule in some much needed “me” time.
