4 Key Ways to Minimize Holiday Stress

Published on 12/3/2021
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4 Key Ways to Minimize Holiday Stress


Thanksgiving is past for 2021 but the holiday season is still in full swing. This time of year is so festive and exciting, but it can also be a tad hectic and overwhelming. But staying organized and setting boundaries will help you in preventing unnecessary stress from building up. Here are 4 key ways to help minimize holiday stress. 


1. Practice saying no


The word, “no,” will become your best friend during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. But don’t think about it only as saying no to friends or family. Instead, consider that saying no to some events allows you to then fully commit and be present at the events and gatherings you do attend. 


2. Set realistic goals and boundaries


When the calendar gets full and hectic, setting boundaries will help protect you from unnecessary stress. For instance, if you can only visit your in-laws for 2 nights instead of the 4 or 5 nights you usually do, that’s ok and your decision to make. If you can only commit to one extra event per weekend, that’s also ok and a completely realistic boundary. Also, when meal prepping or deciding on holiday feasts, set goals that you can actually accomplish without over taxing yourself or your family. Keep it simpler if needed. Order take-out for dinners in the week before you host a big gathering. Prep lunches on the weekend to things easy and healthy. 


3. Maintain work/life balance


During the holidays, it’s easy to overwork ourselves. This includes the errands, cooking, gift wrapping and visiting. But it also can include our professional lives as well. Perhaps you asked for a few days off but now keep getting asked to work extra leading up to or during those special days. It’s ok to put your foot down and maintain that boundary of time off with family to rest and recharge. Also factor in time in your calendar for R&R. Even if you have to literally pencil in “watch a family movie,” or “take a bath and read” for an hour or two in your evenings, do it! Preserve the balance between work life and home life in order to help stay healthy and sane throughout this busy season. 


4. Stick with a budget


An important aspect of enjoying the holiday season is to budget and then stick with your budget as much as possible. It’s so easy and tempting to blow through our budgets. There’s pressure on every side to buy more gifts, splurge on more decorations, and go out to more dinners and parties. But if you have a set budget, try to stay in those lines. Your future self in January will thank you and your finances won’t be so tight going into the New Year. 


Let us know how else you mitigate the holiday stress to get the most out of this festive time of year.