Maybe you are immune to this, but I definitely feel some stress with the holidays!
There are a lot of events and a lot of expectations. It can feel super busy and like you’re running all over the place if you don’t guard your time and energy. We especially feel this living away from our families and being home for a condensed time during Christmas! You feel pressure to do everything with everyone, but since this isn’t a new thing, I wanted to share some tips to prevent stress this time of year.
FYI you NEED this robe! I wear it daily! It would also make a great gift.
ONE – create a Christmas list!
This might sound silly but shopping will be so much more stressful if you don’t have a Christmas list. I create a spreadsheet in Google Sheets every year with everyone I need to buy. I put in ideas as I think of them and record what I’ve bought and what I’ve wrapped. Since it’s in Google Drive I can access it anywhere, which makes it easy to keep updated as I’m shopping. I would be lost without this list! And having a list in one spot keeps my shopping on track.
TWO – schedule events with smaller groups
Ever feel like you never talked to anyone at a big event? Well you probably didn’t! It’s hard to catch up with people when you’re at a dinner with 20+ attendees. So try to set aside time to hang out with your closest friends and family away from a massive event. Even if it’s grabbing coffee or a quick dinner, it’s a great way to catch up and reconnect.
THREE – skip events!
You do not need to go to everything you’re invited to. Repeat after me – say no! Sometimes it’s ok to skip an event and take a break. You can’t burn the candle at both ends for a whole month, so don’t feel like you have to be everywhere. Received an invite for an optional event that doesn’t require you to be there? Say no if you just need some time off.
FOUR – set aside time to do nothing.
Sometimes the best nights during the holidays are at home, sitting by the tree. This time of year goes too quickly so it’s such a treat to take time to enjoy it. I also feel a lot of pressure when we’re back home to do everything with everyone. My husband and brother can both run from event to event to event and not get flustered, but going at that pace for days really wears me out. So I need to take a break every once and a while, and that’s ok!
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE this time of year. I just want to keep it fun and not feel too much stress! Then I can really enjoy the events, shopping, and gift giving without feeling too much pressure.
I hope some of these tips are helpful if you’re feeling stressed right now. Hopefully just one of these tips can help, or all of them if you need it! Have a great Wednesday and see you back here Friday 🙂
