The holiday season can be a stressful time for many, with holiday stress leading to overspending, overeating, social anxiety, and travel difficulties. With all these stressors, it can be hard to enjoy the holidays. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to de-stress your holiday season and make it an enjoyable time for you and your family. In this blog post, we will explore five different ways to relieve holiday stress and make sure this season is a time of joy and relaxation.
1. Don't Overspend
It's easy to get carried away during the holidays and go over your budget. Overspending can quickly become a source of stress, so it's important to plan ahead and stick to your budget. Here are a couple of suggestions that you have definitely thought about and you will be wise to put in action: 1) Make a list of who you want to buy gifts for and how much money you are willing to spend on each person. 2) Then, set yourself a spending limit for the holidays, and make sure to stick to it. 3) Consider alternative gift ideas that don't cost a lot of money, such as homemade gifts or gifts of service (like babysitting). You'll be glad you took the time to plan ahead and avoid overspending this holiday season.
2. Avoid Overeating
When it comes to the holiday season, overeating is an all-too-common problem. Whether you're surrounded by tempting dishes or spending time with toxic relatives, it can be difficult to resist the urge to overindulge. However, it is possible to avoid holiday overeating and enjoy the season in a healthy way. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
1. Avoid grazing. Rather than standing around with food and snacking throughout the day, sit down to enjoy your meal.
2. Exercise portion control. Choose smaller portions of your favorite holiday dishes and enjoy them in moderation.
3. Eat before you go. Having a light meal beforehand can help you resist temptation.
4. Drink plenty of water. Not only will it fill you up, but it will also help flush out any toxins from holiday overspending and travel.
5. Focus on the company. Try to enjoy the conversation and make it the focus rather than the food.
By following these simple tips, you can enjoy the holidays without falling into the trap of holiday overeating. After all, there's more to life than food!
3. Don't Travel If You Can Help It
Travelling during the holiday season can be a major source of stress. The thought of being stuck in traffic, dealing with snowy and icy roads, or simply feeling overwhelmed about driving in the wintery weather can cause additional anxiety during this already hectic time of year. If you can, it's best to avoid traveling altogether and look into alternate solutions such as inviting some guests over to your place or virtual meetups. Actually virtual meetups with friends and relatives can not only help reduce your stress levels, but also help you to avoid hosting, overspending and overeating that can often accompany the holidays.
4. Tackle Your Social Anxiety
The holidays can be a particularly stressful time for those who struggle with social anxiety. Whether it’s facing toxic relatives or going to holiday parties, feeling overwhelmed in social settings is common during the season. If you’re struggling with your social anxiety, here are a few tips to help you tackle it:
• Talk to yourself – If you find yourself starting to feel overwhelmed in a social setting, take a few moments to take a deep breath and talk to yourself in your head. Remind yourself that you don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.
• Focus on the positive – Try to focus on the things that make the social situation enjoyable. Enjoying the food or the decorations, for example, can help take the focus off of your worries.
• Avoid unhealthy behaviors by planning ahead - If you know that there are certain people or events that make you anxious, try to plan ahead. Figure out what makes you feel most comfortable and stick to that plan. Only go if you have a "safe" friend to be with you making sure they help you stick to your plan.
• Have a polite "escape" strategy – Don’t be afraid to take breaks or leave early if needed. Having a plan for when you need to leave can help alleviate some of the pressure and make you feel more relaxed in the situation.
5. Give Yourself a Break
It's important to take some time for yourself during the holiday season. With all the added stress of holidays it can be difficult to find time to relax and practice self care. Make sure you are taking a little time out of your day to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Here are a few ideas to help you take a break.
To make sure you care for yourself make it easy, chose only one of those ideas but commit to following it every day:
• Take a walk: Go for a walk outdoors and enjoy the scenery around you. This will give you a chance to clear your head and just be with yourself.
• Listen to music: Put on some relaxing tunes and get lost in the melody. Music is a great way to de-stress and escape from reality for a little bit.
• Take a break from social media: Social media can be stressful during the holiday season, so take some time to disconnect from it. You don’t need to be constantly connected to it all day long.
• Treat yourself: Give yourself a little treat by doing something you love or buying something small that makes you happy.
• Unplug: Take a few hours or even an entire day to turn off all your devices and just unplug. Allow yourself to relax and focus on yourself without any distractions.
By following these tips and taking time out of your day for self care, you can help reduce your stress during the holiday season and make it a more enjoyable experience.