7 Helpful Holiday Stress-Busting Tips

Certainly, there are so many more ways to help make your holiday less stressful, but at least these 7 will get you started.

1. Family First

With so many events and people and expectations around the holiday season, it’s easy to get spread too thin and worry too much about keeping everyone happy. Think about who is most important to you. Is it your husband and kids? Is it your closest friends? Is it your parents? Maybe it’s everyone from your co-workers to your neighbors and you want time with as many people as possible. Whoever is most important, establish with yourself who is more important. Once that is straight in your mind it makes it easier to choose between events.

2. Christmas Goals

Take some time to check in with yourself before you get too caught up in all of the holiday hustle and bustle. Ask yourself, what are you trying to accomplish this holiday season? What are your priorities? Is it to just be happy and enjoy the season? What aspects of the holidays bring you the most joy and make it feel like Christmas? Is it baking lots of cookies, finding the perfect gift for each person, watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with your family, or whatever it may be, make those activities your focus. Put the activities that you’d like to do in order of priority. Then as the holiday season goes along keep one mantra in mind: Do it, Delegate it, or Dump it. Keep the priorities in focus and let the rest go.

3. Set Boundaries

Does something keep happening almost every holiday season that always frustrates you? Do your best to avoid it. If your sibling always lectures you about your life, just send them a card and a simple present and avoid the obligatory phone call. If your co-worker takes every opportunity to embarrass you at the Christmas party, make sure you find someone that will stick with you through the whole party and not give them the chance to win their petty game. If you hate hosting a party at your house, find someone else to do it. Sure, we all face guilt when we set boundaries and actually stick to them, but usually the guilt will subside when we realize just how much stress we saved ourselves. Don’t get caught in a guilt inspired obligation again!

4. Pot-Luck

Hold a pot-luck holiday appetizer and dessert party. No need for a full dinner, the holidays are about all the treats. Most people like to bring a little something and when everyone does you don’t have to do the cooking.

5. Hiding Gifts

Wrap presents as soon as you get home. No worries about anyone stumbling across their gifts!

6. Prevent Snoopers

Tired of the kids endlessly shaking their wrapped presents? Don’t put their name on the gift — use a number system! Each family member gets a number but the numbers are not revealed until it is time to open presents. Keeps everyone guessing until Christmas and the surprise alive.

7. Eat a Healthy Breakfast

That way if you end up nibbling on holiday goodies throughout the day at least you started your belly off right and you’ll be less likely to eat too many treats. It’s also important to make sure you get healthy foods in your diet in order to keep stress levels down and your mood stable. Enjoy your goodies, but balance it out.

What is your best holiday stress-busting tip? Share it with everyone and let’s help each other get through the “most wonderful time of the year.”