Stress – /stres/ – a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances
Holidays are a major cause of anxiety, you know those moments where the stress balloons up and it feels like you're staggering beneath the weight? Yeah those moments.
Holiday stress comes from many different directions. It comes from wanting to travel to see extended family and having to do the million and one things to get ready for a trip – washing clothes, packing the suitcases and finding someone to care for pets and house. Then there’s the shopping for gifts, food preparations, and late night holiday to-do tasks that never seem to end. Sound like you’ve been there before?
Christmas doesn’t have to be a hectic, stressful holiday.
Not only is stress not good for your health, but it’s also not good for others who deal with stressed out people! The holidays are meant to be slowly enjoyed, not rushed through trying to pack as much as we can into every moment and get everything just right. The meaning of Christmas has disappeared beneath an abundance of activities and gift buying. It’s time to fix that.
Narrow your focus. We take on too many responsibilities and then feel overwhelmed (and stressed and usually short tempered) at all we have to accomplish within a given time limit.
Spend your time and energy on what matters to you and your family and let go of the things that don’t. It is that simple, just LET GO!
There’s no such thing as a perfect holiday.
If your family doesn’t care if you make every party you’re invited to, then don’t go. Learn to delegate chores. You can’t clean an entire home alone for the arrival of company if you’re trying to get all of the cooking and baking done, too. Enlist family members to help and if they can’t, splurge on a maid service to do the holiday cleaning for you. Make it a gift you give yourself to help you maintain a stress-free Christmas.
Get organized. You need a master checklist. Knowing what you need to get done will help keep your focus. Keep all of your Christmas supplies organized and together:
- tape
- scissors
- gift tags
- gift-wrap.
You’ll save time if you don’t have to constantly search for what you need. Eliminate any last minute running around by making a list!
Throughout the year, finances can be a major cause of stress but that stress can grow during the holidays due to overspending. People don’t overspend at Christmas because they’re bad people. They overspend because they want to give! But when the holiday is over and those bills roll in, it can take a toll. Instead, stick to a spending limit this Christmas.
Just as importantly as sticking to a budget is sticking to a time limit. It’s no fun rushing around, trying to cram months’ worth of visiting loved ones into a few days. Know ahead of time who you’ll visit, on what day and what time you should leave. Making a list takes some of the spontaneity out of it, but it also helps you enjoy a stress-free Christmas too!
Remember that the holidays should be about family!