Managing Stress Before the Holidays

• 

• 

I don’t know about you guys but the holidays give me all sorts of stress.

I wish I could tell you guys that I have family from all over that come to visit, that I have to cook up a storm and buy a million gifts for everyone but in all reality, my family is very small, my mom does most the cooking and I usually end up braving amazon for all my holiday gifts.

So why in the world do I always feel so stressed this time of year?

It is something about the shopping and crowds. Everyone seems to be on edge which in turn makes me feel on edge. There are always a bunch of back-to-back parties, not to mention somehow you lose sight of any diet that once was.

With that being said, I’ve rounded up some tips on managing stress before the holiday season and I’m currently in the process of following these as well.

1. Be realistic. The holidays don’t have to be perfect. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals will change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones.
2. Stick to a budget. Before you go gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Don’t try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Try these alternatives: *Donate to a charity in someone’s name.
   *Give homemade gifts.
   *Start a family gift exchange.
3. Learn to say no. Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can’t be a part of everything. I’ve always found that when I actually do say “no” when I really don’t want to attend an event, I actually end up feeling a million times better. Sometimes we need alone time or just full on “rest” time and that is okay.
4. Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm.
5. Make a plan for the new year. I don’t want to sound like one of those people who is like “make a new year’s resolution” and then you fall off the bandwagon. What I do mean however is lay out realistic, sustainable steps and/or goals for the months ahead. I find that starting a new year with a clear mind and a plan in place for all the positive changes you wish to make is always an amazing idea. Remember, with a new year comes a fresh start and it always feels SO good!

Do you guys have any tips on how to manage stress before the holidays? If so, I’d love to hear!!

• 

•