It seems that the one time of year where stress levels sore is the holidays. It makes sense I suppose with the endless to do list, gifts to buy and countless invitations to parties and events. Sometimes it seems there’s not enough hours in the day not enough money in your bank account.
However, here’s a little secret, you don’t have to do everything. I know you want to keep your friends and family and children and partners and everyone else in your life happy, but you don’t have to do everything.
You need to take care of yourself (always, not just during the holidays) so here are a few tips that have worked for me to transform from the high strung everything has to be perfect even if I don’t sleep for 6 weeks to the calmer more relaxed version of me.
*Disclaimer- None of this is rocket science but more of a reminder of what you already know you should be doing but aren’t.*
- Get some exercise- seriously everyday, schedule a minimum of 30 minutes into your day and don’t make excuses to skip it.
- Get your beauty sleep. I’m definitely a burn the candle at both ends kind of gal and tend to sacrifice sleep for just about everything else. It doesn’t get you any further ahead, it just makes you moody and weakens your immune system and trust me getting sick over the holidays does nothing for your stress levels.
- Shop early and online if you can. If there are items on your shopping list that you know are must haves and may even be hot items buy them early so you aren’t scrambling at the last minute trying to find the last one on the shelf somewhere. If you plan a head a bit you can even take advantage of sales and save a little money too.
- Try to buy with cash. I heard that collective gasp, but yes I said cash. There’s nothing more stressful than opening up your credit card statement after the holidays to see how much you actually spent. When you shop on credit it’s easy to lose track of how much you’ve actually spent.
- Make the time for yourself, get your hair or nails done, schedule a facial or a massage. It’s a couple of hours at most and you’ll look great and feel good so why not? You’re worth it.
- Give back. Adopt a family or donate to a local charity there are loads who need the support of the community to carry out their work and would gladly accept anything you can offer, if you can’t give financially then offer up your skills and time, spend a couple of hours helping out in anyway you can. I know it seems like adding something to your to-do list would add to the stress levels but giving back to your community and helping those less fortunate does actually make you feel good. All those endorphins help lower the stress levels and like the Grinch your heart will grow at least 3 sizes bigger. (If it doesn’t you may be dead inside, in which case none of these tips will help you)
- Have sex. This isn’t just me talking now this is science, has to do with those endorphins again, they just make you feel good.
- Say No. easier said than done I know but you just can’t attend every party, event, dinner or cocktail reception you’re invited to, and you don’t have to. It’s ok to turn down an invitation as long as you actually do RSVP No, don’t be one of those ducks who says maybe it’s a yes or no kind of situation. Also if you RSVP yes- show up, also a dick move to say you’ll be somewhere and then just not show up. (I have strong feelings about the RSVP)
- Make time for those who are the most important to you. Friends and family are what the holidays are all about and whether it’s a full dinner with all the fixings or just hanging out around the Christmas tree in your pjs with a bottle of wine, time with those who fill your heart with joy is what’s going to make your holidays merry and bright.
This holiday season stress less and love more, Christmas is about the people not the things.
