What with the holiday party planning, cooking, shopping and celebrating — not to mention end-of-year work and school deadline — it can be challenging to take a deep breath and make time for ourselves! To help you reduce holiday stress, we’ve created a tip for each day leading up to the holidays.
Day 1: Make a to-do list
Lists are magical things. They instill order on the holiday chaos. They transform all the swirling obligations in your head into actionable tasks. And they allow for massive satisfaction as you cross those tasks off. Make a list of all the things you need to accomplish or want to accomplish this holiday season. Maybe that’s chores to complete, meals to plan, gifts to purchase, or volunteering to do. Or all of the above. Whatever it is, write it down and make it happen.
Day 2: Schedule a date with yourself
Think of the activities that take you to your favorite place—if only in your mind—and make a date with yourself by putting them on your calendar. It could be as simple as a luxurious bath, a fancy cup of coffee or tea, binge-watching your favorite series or an hour with a good book. If it’s on the calendar, it’s a commitment.
Day 3: Take a walk outside
Even if it’s just a 15-minute walk around the neighborhood, it’ll do you some good. Breathe in the fresh air, admire the neighbors’ holiday decorations and clear your head.
Day 4: Delegate a task
Feeling overwhelmed with all of the things on that to-do list you made? Consider which ones can be shared and call on a friend or family member and ask for their help.
Day 5: Set realistic expectations
Have a frank discussion with yourself about fantasy vs. reality when it comes to the holidays. Maybe that means you put less effort into preparations. Perhaps it means you don’t put pressure on yourself to make everyone happy. Whatever it might be for you, accept that the holidays don’t have to be perfect, and try to enjoy them for what they are.
Day 6: Reach out to a friend
Loneliness often surfaces during the holidays, for a whole host of reasons. Whether you feel lonely, yourself, or you suspect a friend might be feeling blue, make time to connect. It’ll benefit you both.
Day 7: Get creative with gifting
If your budget is a concern this year, as it is for many, find ways to avoid breaking the bank. Are there items you could make or bake, yourself, and give out as gifts? Is there a gift exchange you could arrange to minimize the gifts you purchase? Could you ask your family to bring a talent to the party instead of a present? Mixing it up could be fun for everyone.
Day 8: Offer a helping hand
This is your day to make a difference in another person’s life. How you do it is up to you! You could volunteer with a non-profit, serve as a secret Santa to someone who needs it or just offer a helping hand to a neighbor or a friend. Research shows that volunteering reduces stress and can even improve your mood.
Day 9: Take a shortcut
Today, it’s time to cut corners. That’s right! We’ve already established that you don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be good enough this holiday season. Now, put a plan into action. Maybe that means sending holiday e-cards instead of mailing cards. Or buying store-bought cookies. Or spot-cleaning the house instead of deep-cleaning. Which corner you cut is up to you, but do it with conviction!
Day 10: Meditate or just breathe.
You’ve done a great job keeping up with this list. Now, it’s time to reward yourself by taking a deep breath, literally. Spend a few minutes either meditating, or doing some deep breathing exercises. And feel free to repeat as often as needed.
Day 11: Reflect
As the year comes to a close, it’s a good time to think back on all that you’ve seen and done. Take the time to look through the last 12 months of photos on your phone. Think about what worked and what didn’t. What do you want to carry with you into the new year and what do you want to leave behind?
Day 12: Be present
Think about what the holidays mean to you. Now, embrace the moments that give you those feelings. Those are the memories you’ll keep.
