Stress is a mental health condition characterized by being excessively worried and mentally disturbed. Although it can be humans’ natural response to undesirable conditions or situations, it can sometimes become severe and uncontrollable. Everyone faces stress at one point, but the critical point is controlling our stress by keeping ourselves calm and adjusting to the situation.

Holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, etc., can also be a source of stress for many people due to endless cooking, meeting people, wrapping gifts, and ensuring the house is clean and everything is ready. Sometimes, loneliness hits more on holidays rather than on routine days. However, these days were meant for being happy, not vice versa. We should try to make these holidays stress-free.

Here are some important tips to avoid stress, particularly during holidays.

Plan before the holidays

Make a list of to-dos beforehand and set your schedule according to your liking. Meeting people, shopping, making dinner, and packing gifts for family should be planned. We can make a list of grocery items and ensure we get them all on time. It will keep us stress-free by reducing last-minute rushes.

Focus on meaningful activities.

Instead of following trends and keeping yourself busy with meaningless things, focus on meaningful activities that bring you joy and relaxation, even if it is just reading a book you like. Stay at home and play those minor games with your family, which all of them can play easily. It will bring a sense of achievement to all of them and will be a great source of creating new memories.

Keep your habits healthy.

Holidays are infamous for destroying good routines. A quick workout in the morning will help you make better decisions throughout the day. Encourage your family to go snowshoeing or sledding to get some additional activity. Eat nutritious snacks like fresh fruit or vegetables throughout the season instead of filling up before a dinner party or celebration with appealing but harmful meals.

Plan spending

Decide beforehand how much money you can spend on gifts and food before shopping. This may make shopping more enjoyable and less stressful. Moreover, try to make your presents and begin by drawing names for a family gift exchange.

Pro-tip: Make a charitable contribution in someone’s honor. It can make you feel like you are doing something practical for that person.

Avoid Overcommitting

It’s perfectly fine to decline a few or all holiday engagements. It will also help to ease some stress. Share your schedule with family members to inform them about your priorities.

Try Opening up

It might be tough to spend a holiday when a family one has died. Accept your emotions and share them with others. Sharing may help you feel better. To cope with the loss, experiment with new customs.

The Unified Caring Association has created many caring communities to help us cope with stress and anxiety.

Give yourself ME time

Remember to give yourself the required ME time. Nap, stroll briefly, read a book, or watch a hilarious movie. Laughter relaxes the entire body, relieving physical tension and stress.

Take home

Stress can become overwhelming during the holidays because of associated challenges like excessive commitments, preparation hustles, and spending on gifts. However, one can easily navigate the holiday season by planning beforehand, focusing on meaningful activities, maintaining healthy habits, and setting spending limits. Moreover, it’s crucial to avoid overcommitting, share emotions with loved ones, and prioritize self-care. Amid the festive chaos, remember to allocate precious “ME time” for relaxation. One can foster a stress-free and joyous holiday experience by following these strategies.