The holiday season is magical – and stressful. According to the New York Post, “festive stress is real,” and it extends throughout December hitting peak stress levels on Christmas Day. Parents, in particular, feel this stress the most. The study also reports, “Six in 10 moms say they find it hard to slow down and enjoy the festive season.”
Between shopping, moving your Elf on the Shelf around nightly, and attending multiple kids’ Christmas programs and parties, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season can take away all the joy. Plus, if you don’t find appropriate ways of dealing with holiday stress, you will make bad choices and have a bad attitude. Basically, stress can turn you into a Grinch.
Tips for Managing Stress During the Holidays
The more intentional you are about managing stress during the holidays, the more fun you will have, and the more peaceful your home will be. Instead of being a Scrooge this season, let’s look at healthy ways of dealing with holiday stress
Plan ahead.
First things first, plan ahead. Pull out your calendar and write down all the holiday events you must attend. See if there are any overlaps and if there are any events you can remove from your busy schedule. You can also use a family scheduling app such as Picniic to organize the entire family’s holiday schedule. Then, since the holidays never go according to plan, leave room for a change of plans.
Talk to your kids about holiday traditions.
No two families are alike – especially during the holidays. Go ahead and prevent your kids from comparing what you do and don’t do by talking about your family’s holiday traditions. The American Psychological Association recommends telling them why they have certain traditions and why they do things differently from the family next door.
Set realistic expectations.
Like kids, it is easy for parents to get caught up in the comparison trap or to have unrealistic holiday expectations. If you are expecting a Pinterest-perfect Christmas, then you will be sorely disappointed. Instead, set realistic expectations for your kids – and yourself.
Share the load.
Ask for help and be willing to accept it. Delegate tasks around the home and get your kids involved. Look for opportunities to make life easier for yourself and others around you during this busy season. For instance, instead of driving your kids all around town, use GoKid to set up carpools with neighborhood friends. When one parent drives the kids to carpool, knock something off your Christmas to-do list.
Say no.
Embrace the power of the word “no.” Much of our holiday stress comes from our busy calendars. You can help keep stress at bay by leaving space for breathing room. Your kids need downtime during this season just as much as you do. If you can’t fit one more thing in, politely say, “No.”
Make healthy choices.
Stress often leads to bad choices. When you factor in holiday food and the busyness of the season, it is easy to make unhealthy choices. We eat more sugary foods, we drink more alcohol, and we exercise and sleep less. Instead, be conscientious about taking care of yourself during this season.
Remember, less is more.
Today, it is easier than ever to do more, more, more. We can find ourselves overspending and overextending ourselves just for the sake of doing more. Sometimes a simple holiday is more magical than an excessive, extravagant Christmas. When you feel yourself getting caught up in a “more” mentality, stop and think about the simple joys of the season.
