Stress Relief for the Holidays

By Vishal | No Comments

The holiday season should be a time for you to enjoy and relax while spending time with family and friends. Unfortunately, the holidays are often a very stressful time for many people, because they feel overwhelmed by the amount of things they want to get done such as decorating, baking, gift shopping, wrapping, planning dinners, etc.

If you are feeling the time crunch during the holiday season, there are different ways you can help reduce and/or relieve the stress you feel. The following are a few helpful tips you can try:

Prioritize – Often we become stressed when we are overwhelmed with tasks. The best way to keep on track is to make two separate lists – a list of what you need to accomplish, and the other what you want to accomplish. Prioritize these lists by comparing them to the calendar and create one “to do” list. Interchange what you need to get done with what you want to get done and you will be able to balance productivity with personal enjoyment.

Evade procrastination – It’s futile to leave everything to the last minute. You will not have time to enjoy the holiday if you are rushing out to buy, wrap and give gifts all on the same day. Give yourself a break, and do as much as you can in advance.

In addition, if you find that you a shrinking away from a task, because it is overwhelming, break it up into smaller parts so it’s more achievable. For instance, don’t try to decorate your home all in one day. Start early, and do a little bit daily.

Get others involved – If you have family members or friends who are willing to help you, let them, and don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. Don’t live by the attitude “if you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself”. Although you may want to be in charge of the tasks that you feel are the most important, make sure you delegate tasks to others.

Avoid holiday shopping on the weekend – Cut down shopping stress, by avoiding shopping centers during the weekend. Keep your eyes open for sales all year round and make purchases well in advance, or on less busy days such as on weekdays during the morning or afternoon.

Live by limits – You need to be realistic and practical during the holidays. Budget the money you intend to spend on gifts and holiday goodies, and stick to them. Remember, giving someone a nice gift doesn’t mean it has to be expensive. In fact, most people enjoy thoughtful gifts more than bought gifts.

Don’t be afraid to break tradition – There is no rule that says the holidays have to be the same every year. For example, if you usually have the big dinner at your home, but feel too tired to do it this year, let someone else have it. Don’t try to please everyone, because the one person you’ll end up not pleasing is yourself.

Posted in Stress Management

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