The holidays can be stressful for a multitude of reasons. Whether it’s being overwhelmed by the amount of work teachers assign before Christmas break or doing last minute gift shopping, we all struggle at least a little bit during this busy season. Despite this, there are many ways you can help to eliminate most, if not all, of this stress.
Prioritizing self care is one of the best ways to help reduce stress. If you feel good, you are most likely going to respond better when doing things that can be overwhelming. Some forms of self care include doing a short workout in the morning, journaling about how you’re feeling, taking some deep breaths and meditating are all easy ways to relieve stress.
Learning how to say no is also a major stress reliever. It may sound weird, but you are only one person, who can only do so much. You can feel overwhelmed easily by saying yes to three Christmas parties in a week. Limiting yourself to making realistic plans will help you not feel so rushed during the holiday season and help you enjoy it more.
Being present in the moment and not thinking about the next thing can have a huge positive impact on how you feel. Try to really take it all in when at gatherings with friends and family, and just live in the moment.
Sources:
https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/mental-health-and-wellbeing/seasons-healings
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/fend-off-holiday-stress-with-these-tips