Tips for a stress-free holiday season
Focus on loved ones, celebrations and lots of festive treats
For many people, the most wonderful time of the year often doubles as the most stressful. With the holiday season just around the corner, I wanted to share a few tips to keep your stress to a minimum, so you can focus on loved ones, celebrations, and lots of festive treats this year.
My first suggestion is to pick your least favourite task and do it first. Hate the thought of wrapping all of those presents? Or is it writing out cards or doing a full house cleanup before parties that you keep putting off? Whatever you dread most about holiday prep, getting it out of the way will free up time to focus on the things you actually enjoy doing this season.
Hold on to regular routines. Oftentimes, the holidays become so busy, so quickly, that people let their old rituals fall to the wayside. Maintaining these routines can keep you feel more grounded during the hectic season. Whether it’s weekly brunch with friends, or a nightly phone call with a loved one, don’t let go of the routines you enjoy just because it’s the holidays.
Prepare meals in advance. This tip comes from a friend of mine who says it’s a lifesaver during the holiday season. Each time she makes a “freezable” meal for her family in the weeks leading up to the holidays, she doubles the recipe and puts half away. This way, when visitors start popping by, she can whip up a home cooked meal in no time, rather than depending on last minute snacks. Her favourites? Lasagna, turkey soup, and chicken pot pie.
Know when to say no. This is something that many of us struggle with throughout the year, but the holiday season has a way of convincing us to take on even more. It’s important to remember that you can’t do everything. Of course it’s not easy to say no to just one more recital, or party, or bake sale, but the fact is, burning yourself out won’t help you accomplish anything at all.
The next tip ties in very closely to the last — don’t forget to ask for help; moms especially! I don’t know about you, but the mothers in my family have a tendency to try to do everything themselves. Remember that it’s OK to rely on people during this time of the year, and ask for a little bit of help. As for the rest of us, don’t forget to check in with the people in your life who seem to do everything around the holidays; taking just one task off of their hands could make a world of difference.
Consider ditching tired traditions for new relaxing moments. Are you doing something you dread, just because you’ve been doing it for the past five years? Sure, traditions are nice, but it’s okay to let some of them go and replace them with new things. Do your kids really love bundling up for every Santa Claus parade in the CBRM, or are you just doing it out of habit? Maybe a new tradition of hot chocolate and movies, or a lazy Sunday brunch would make them just as happy!
The last and most important tip is to remember that no one, even those who look like it on social media, is perfect. Yes, they may post a photo of the most beautiful tree you’ve ever seen, but you weren’t there moments earlier when a broken string of lights caused a total meltdown. The point is, everyone has stressful moments during the holidays, no matter how put-together they may seem. Try your best to remember what it’s really about, and take the time to look around and enjoy it. Don’t let this holiday season fly past your eyes without savouring it!
“Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” — The Grinch
Know when to say no. This is something that many of us struggle with throughout the year, but the holiday season has a way of convincing us to take on even more.