If you’re anything like me, the holidays are a flurry of activity from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. There are kid portraits to schedule and holiday cards to order and mail. There are gifts to purchase and hours spent wandering aimlessly around Target looking for stocking stuffers. There’s the mischievous Elf that must be moved every single night for a month (unless you enjoy rushing downstairs in a blind panic at 5am when you realize you forgot all about him). There’s the annual debate about whether or not to venture out on Black Friday or bake Christmas cookies that you know you’ll eventually end up eating by yourself. There are school concerts and open houses and holiday parties.
There’s no two ways about it: the holidays are stressful. It amazes me how quickly it morphs from “the most wonderful time of the year” to a slew of obligations and preparations and last minute holiday shopping. Kinda kills the holiday spirit, no?
That’s why this year I am taking a different approach and tacking one item at the top of my holiday to-do list: taking care of me. My hope is that by alleviating or reducing some of my own holiday stress I will be able to relax and enjoy the season. You know, be more “Joy to the World” than “Bah Humbug.”
So here are my strategies for keeping my sanity during the holidays:
- Be more organized. Each year, I try to plan ahead when it comes to ordering Christmas cards and doing my online holiday shopping, but I somehow forget to take printing and shipping times into consideration. This can be a big deal, especially since I rely a lot on photo-related gifts, personalized items and Etsy goodies. You just can’t order them on Dec. 10 and expect them to be at your house in time for the holidays. That’s why this year I am making a list of those “special order” gifts and ordering them by next Tuesday, the day we leave for Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving. In fact, I’ve already ordered my holiday cards! Another bonus? There are so many good deals out there right now for Snapfish, Shutterfly, Tiny Prints, you name it, and I doubt they’ll be around much longer. I bought my cards on Snapfish using a 60% off discount code!
- Make healthy living a top priority. We all tend to indulge a lot over the holidays. I know I do. A cookie (or five) here, a glass (or two) of egg nog there. And it’s oh-so-easy to find excuses to blow off the gym this time of year. That’s not to say you can’t have a treat every once in awhile, but this year I’m not going to use the holidays as a license to go crazy and overeat. I will enjoy my treats mindfully and in moderation. And while I realize our holiday obligations or travel plans may make it difficult to follow my regular fitness routine, I have to find a way to work around it because – let’s face it – exercise keeps me sane and reduces my stress levels. So maybe it’s going for a walk with the kids instead of run or following a circuit training app like Sworkit when we’re visiting family. The most important thing is that I try to do 20 minutes of some sort of activity every day.
- Me time. It might be a manicure or a pedicure. It might be going to the movies by myself. I haven’t quite decided. But all I know is that I’m going to treat myself to a little me time in December.
- Keep expectations in check. Many of us approach the season with visions of “the perfect holiday” – a beautifully decorated house, angelic children sitting silently during Christmas mass, a gourmet holiday dinner. That’s a lot of pressure to put on ourselves! And what happens when there’s an inevitable wrinkle in those “perfect” holiday plans? That’s why it’s so important to set realistic holiday expectations. For example, last year our Christmas tree kept falling down and a lot of meaningful ornaments we had collected over the years were totally destroyed. Disappointing? Sure. Stressful? Definitely. But I think we were in a good position to handle it because our holiday expectations weren’t very high. Honestly, our goal was simply to enjoy Mimi’s first Christmas, and she could care less whether or not there were ornaments on the tree. And you know, those ornaments were just things. We still have the memories associated with them. The funny thing is now we kind of joke about the fact that we had a possessed Christmas tree – and I have a feeling we’ll be laughing about this as a family for many Christmases to come.
- Be realistic: your kids can only handle so much. Dragging them from holiday party to holiday party or forcing them to wait in ridiculously long lines at the mall is not good for anyone’s sanity. As much as you want to squeeze in that “really quick” Target run at the end of a long day, don’t do it. Most kids have a low threshold for shopping – especially mine, who are prone to department store meltdowns. That’s why my goal this year is to accomplish as much as I can on my lunch breaks, when I’m kid-free, or early on weekend mornings, since most stores, like Target or Kohl’s, open at 8am. I could get a bunch of shopping done and still be home by 10am with a full day ahead of me.
- Just say no. Really, if you don’t have time to bake cookies for the holiday concert or you don’t have the extra money this year to exchange gifts with Second Cousin Sally, then just say so. No one wants to feel like the Grinch, but we can all only handle so much – emotionally and financially – during the holidays. It’s important to be honest about our limitations. Plus, I think you’d be surprised how relieved some people may be if you suggest cancelling this year’s annual cookie exchange. Here’s an exercise: Think about how many times you use the phrase “have to” when describing the holidays. Try to cut that number in half this year – or eliminate it altogether. That’s my goal.
- Help others and be thankful. I really want to show Buddy and Mimi that the holidays are more than just exchanging presents or finding gifts under the tree. It’s about compassion, generosity and being thankful for what we have. There are so many worthy causes and organizations who need help this time of year, and so many people less fortunate than us. So whether we donate old winter coats that the kids have outgrown or participate in an Adopt-a-Family program or volunteer our time at a senior citizens center, I want my children to experience the true spirit of the holiday season – and, frankly, I’m sure I could use a reminder, too.
What do you think? I have a feeling I may slip here and there, but I am very curious to see if these relatively simple steps can help me find more holiday joy while keeping my stress levels in check. I’ll be sure to report on my progress!
Question: What is your top tip for avoiding holiday stress?
Lynn says
Great strategies! I’m going to borrow a few of these. I, too, used the 60% off promo code on Snapfish! It really does pay off to be organized this time of year. π
jen says
This is going to be my mantra this holiday season ! Great tips … you have inspired me to order my holiday cards before thanksgiving π Hey if you ever want to escape for that pedicure and sinful glass or 2 of wine call me. I will be the one done with my Christmas shopping (lol).
Lani @ Rose Tinted Traveler says
Came across your blog at the November Blog Hop! These are great tips! I’m failing at the “make healthy living a top priority”. I’ve been eating so healthy. Yet now that I’ve got Halloween candy, pumpkin bread, pies, and cookies in abundance in my house …I am addicted! Definitely need to slow down. I feel gross!
Jessica says
I find that’s the toughest one too, especially if you have a sweet tooth like I do! My goal is to try and be more mindful of what I eat, so if I want a cookie, then I’ll try to sit down and enjoy it slowly, rather than grabbing one and scarfing it down while I’m doing the dishes or fixing lunch. We’ll see how it goes! Good luck and remember every day is a fresh start, diet-wise π
Danielle @ Itsaharleyyylife says
great tips! this blog and going for runs/walks keeps me sane during the holidays!
Jessica says
Isn’t it amazing how exercise can have that kind of effect? I have to keep reminding myself of that as the holidays get closer and closer and I start making excuses about why I don’t want to go for a run π