How to Organize Your Holiday Season: 15 Simple Strategies for Creating Less Stress & More Joy
Managing holiday stress is essential to enjoying the season without being overwhelmed by the stresses of everyday life. When you organize your holiday season, it helps lower your stress level with these top fifteen tips to help you reduce stress and have more fun so you can stay happy and excited all season long.
Be a uni-tasker
Even if you work like a pro, being too busy at the same time can cause you stress.
So, when you get to the next most exciting thing on your to-do list – like making cookie dough or stringing popcorn on a stick – put everything down, focus on the task at hand, and don’t forget to use anti-fatigue mats while working in the kitchen.
As you are still doing something good even if you’re not multi-tasking, you reset your mind by fully immersing yourself in this experience. It’s like meditation in action.
Create a budget
It’s easy to overspend during the holidays, adding stress this season and into the New Year. Having a budget (one that allows for emergencies) helps reduce stress and make the holiday season easier.
It’s okay to say no
We all must face holiday events or commitments that we don’t like. It could be family members who make us stressed, over-expecting gifts, or holidays we would instead not go.
For example, by saying yes to one more holiday event, you are giving up extra time for yourself and your family. Traveling on a long journey means forgoing a Christmas movie show with a child.
If something needs to be fixed, don’t think about why it should be. During your vacation, devote yourself to only the activities you want. Your wants and needs are also necessary – they should be addressed during the holidays (or any other time of the year).
Don’t set unrealistic expectations
One of the most important things you can do for yourself is to set realistic expectations for what you can achieve. If your vision is too high, you may end up feeling frustrated and frustrated. On the other hand, if you set your expectations too low, you may feel satisfied and satisfied.
The key is to find the sweet spot by setting goals that challenge you but are possible to achieve. This does not mean you should always play it safe; sometimes, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is good.
However, being honest with yourself about what you can achieve is essential. By setting realistic goals for yourself, you will be more motivated and engaged in what you do.
Prioritize your time
Ask yourself, what do I want to do? It is very easy to get distracted from the most important things. Instead of running around looking for gifts or food, ask yourself what you want this Christmas, and then be intentional about your answers.
Create your calm
Choose one word to describe the holiday season for you: peace, joy, love, family, or an outing. Write the word as a name on your bathroom mirror. When things get busy, looking at your last word will get you higher than you want – and dictate whatever gets in the way of your goal.
Exercise regularly
Everyone is doing their best to pamper their bodies this holiday season. We eat a lot of fatty and fatty foods, and I am the way the wine flows when family and good friends get together. The best thing you can do about inevitable overeating is to exercise regularly. A good sweat does wonders for toxins and extra calories from holiday celebrations and can reduce stress.
It is unreasonable to expect you not to taste the good things at the entertainment table. But by taking good care of your health, you will be in better shape in January than those who are not and feel good doing it.
Smile, laugh, and lighten up
Resilient people have a happy and humorous outlook on life. Watch a funny movie, chat with your friends, and look for an opportunity to have a little fun every day. Laughter reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol and releases endorphins. Take a minute or two twice daily to think about something that makes you smile.
Give yourself grace and balance with food
Many of the holiday messages around food need to be revised. It often means that we’re doing something wrong when we eat holiday sweets or need to “fill up” before the New Year’s resolutions begin.
I want to challenge these messages. What’s wrong with pampering your body now while enjoying holiday traditions or favorite activities?
Eating the right foods to hydrate and nourish your body is part of good self-care – it helps your body function correctly and supports your body’s response to stress. Enjoy things in moderation, and don’t let guilt and pressure build-up.
Ask for help
It helps to have a support system of friends and family that you can rely on. Whether you’re struggling with a personal issue or just feeling overwhelmed daily, reaching out to your loved ones can make a huge difference.
They can support, listen, or help you wherever you feel overwhelmed. Knowing that there are people in your corner who care about you and want to help can be a great source of comfort.
So, the next time you feel overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out to your loved ones for support. Chances are more than happy to help you with what’s going on.
Forgive others
During the holidays, family and friends can be demanding. No one is perfect, so this holiday season, try to forgive others. If someone says something thoughtless, ungrateful, or sarcastic, make a wise decision to ignore them.
Embrace diversity
Peace on earth and kindness towards people are everyday moods expressed during the holidays. Peace and goodness will come from the acceptance and understanding of many traditions. Take time during your holidays to learn about other cultures and their customs and discuss them with family and friends.
Get organized
Taking an hour or two to prioritize and organize all the essential things that need to be done between now and the holidays—at work and home—is a natural relief. And it will help you to let go and not worry about the little things – another inner strength.
Make time for the family & yourself
Because the holiday season can be challenging in many ways, make sure you take the time to connect with your family during the weeks of preparation. Want to celebrate the holidays with joy, not with fatigue?
A few hours are dedicated to your spouse to talk and spend together. Find a good relaxation or meditation practice and spend 10-15 minutes a day participating. Reach out to friends to talk to when you’re feeling stressed.
Get enough sleep
With so much to do, sleep seems to be the first thing to separate from your schedule, but it’s significant for your body! Most adults need at least 7-9 hours daily to function optimally.
Sleep helps you feel energized and ready for the day and is vital for your immune system, optimal athletic performance, regulating hunger hormones, and mood. This is a must for good health during the holidays or throughout the year.
Conclusion
Using one or more of these tips, you can have more fun and less stress this holiday season. Joy is not something you can’t find, even on cold, busy, busy holidays. As you breathe deeply, refocus, and focus on the true purpose of the season, your ability to love and serve increases, and you can create heaven right where you are.