AND WITH THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR COMES . . .
The holidays are here! What an exciting and fun time. But let’s be honest, with the holiday spirit also comes stress. Can we all agree the holidays are stressful? Now I know not everyone stresses, but a lot of us do. Or at least I know I do. We put so much pressure on our selves to do everything, perfectly. And if we don’t do everything Pinterest perfect then we worry if our holiday will be a good one. I want to share how I avoid stress during the holidays, especially when it comes to buying gifts for everyone. Here are the tips I rely on to have a happier and stress-free holiday season.
Why Traditions Are Important
But first, let’s talk about traditions. Cecil and I don’t have little tornados going around, destroying the house yet, but it is vital for me to establish traditions my kids will follow one day. During the holidays season, we turn on the fireplace almost every night, watch Christmas movies, listen to Christmas music while cooking, or baking cookies, and drink chocolate Abuelita. My house also gets decked out with Christmas decor, twinkly holiday lights and glitter every year. Plus decorations always put me in a happy mood.
Throughout the city, the Christmas spirit shines so brightly. I love everything about the holiday season, the cheery people, the well-behaved Santa expecting children, the meaning of the season, the church service, the happiness, family, food, the decorations, and the music.
As I mentioned above, the holiday season is also stressful and action-packed. Because we tend to get so busy, it is important for us to take a step back and recognize when stress is building up. Below are 7 tips to a stress-free holiday season I rely on, every year.
7 TIPS TO A STRESS-FREE HOLIDAY SEASON
1. Remember the reason for the season.
It’s a time to celebrate the birth of our King and savior. As a Christian, I celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas day. But you don’t have to be Christian just think about the reason why you celebrate the holiday. Whether it’s family, a different religion, or you just like the Christmas lights, there is a reason why you celebrate Christmas. Figure out that reason and carry it in your heart the holiday season. It will bring a smile to your face every time you think about it and you will be happier during a busy time of holiday celebrations.
2. Keep a positive mind.
Our endless to do list can wear us down; even put us in a bad mood. But remember, it’s supposed to be a time about family, gathering with loved ones and everything that brings you joy. Sometimes all it takes for our mood to improve is a shift in our mindset. Look at the positive side of things. If your mom drives you crazy every Christmas and you put the unpleasant thought in your mind, you will have a negative outlook about your mother’s visit, even before she gets there. This year, change up your mindset and think of the last time you saw your mom. Feel feelings of gratitude for having a mother who loves you, in her own way.
And I am not saying you have to be happy all the time, you can take a mental break and go scream in the closet to let out frustration; but for your sanity, try to remain positive, no matter the circumstances.
3. Take lots of deep breaths.
If the pressure of the holidays becomes too overwhelming, take time for yourself. Step away and retreat into a place where you feel safe. Inhale a couple of times profoundly and focus on right now like a background noise. Don’t think of anything else but the present moment. If you’re at work, go to the break room and sit somewhere comfortable where you can close your eyes and take some deep breaths. Or head outside and go for a walk, focusing on your surroundings and breathing. Personally, sitting in the break room at work with a cup of tea in my hands always helped me de-stress and regain focus. It was my secret superpower for always being in a good cheery mood.
4. Plan ahead.
If it is possible, plan ahead. Start planning get-togethers, Christmas shopping, travel and vacations in advance. We are all so blessed to have people in our lives who want to celebrate the holidays with us. Taking time out to plan get-togethers and actually marking them on the calendar can take the worry and stress away almost immediately.
Planning doesn’t have to take five hours of sitting with pen and paper or in front of the computer. It can be as simple as pausing your Netflix show to pull up an event on your phone’s calendar and adding “Dinner with the besties Saturday,” or “Kids Thanksgiving celebration at school Wednesday”. Getting ahead simple means being realistic with yourself and making a note on your calendar for what is to come.
Shopping ahead also helps with stress. The crowds in the stores are insanely crazy the closer to Christmas, but I am sure you already know that. An alternative to going to the stores is shopping online. You can even shop in your PJs and in the comfort of your couch; that’s what I call winning.
5. Make a list.
The famous saying that Santa Claus is “Making a list and checking it twice” applies here. Think of all the people you would like to buy presents for and make a simple list. I do this in the notes section of my phone. Super easy. Lists or some kinds of record, to me, are a lifeline and a great way to organize all your tasks and life, really.
One tip I recommend is you number them on the side, this way when you’re in a hurry and happen to glance at your list, you have an idea how many presents you have to buy; if you’re buying one present for each person that is. Which reminds me, type in how many presents you want to buy for this person, in parenthesis. Typing the number of presents next to the name will also help you budget.
6. Budget.
Money is an important part when it comes to buying gifts for the ones we love. Wouldn’t we love to buy everything in the world for them? Sure we would, but our by-weekly checks say: “hold on a second, you also got a light bill to cover Jack.” Darn, back to budgeting it is. When reviewing your list, from the point above assign a budget to that person. For example, this year, I am assigning $100 to each person on my list. So, if you have two gifts next to the person’s name then it means spending $100 dollars total on two gifts. It’s up to you how you want to spend that money but just make sure to stick to that number.
You don’t want to overspend or take out new credit cards to pay for things. You can begin saving in June next year. Or you can start right now by putting as much money aside as possible. If you take out debt to pay for others than that is not beneficial for you. You’re will just create more stress and a never-ending cycle that you honestly don’t need in your life. Debt can be a monster if you don’t manage it properly and effectively, and make it work for you. Smart spending is always the way to go my friend.
7. Take it all in.
Be in the moment. You’re never going to get this moment again so enjoy your family and friends gathering around the table or in your living room, laughing and having a good time. Every smile, every taste from food, and every little detail take it all in a cherish it in your heart. These are the moments that give us purpose and where we find true happiness. Let your heart be full and be grateful that you are able to have this moment with the ones you care the most.
And honestly, you will find yourself feeling so much better after you practice being in the moment. For me, it’s changed my perspective and provides a calming feeling when I feel anxious. I practice mindfulness every day but I believe it’s important to practice it even more during times of stress, like the holidays.
BONUS PRO TIP
Take care of your health.
When we are busy and stressed we are more likely to get sick because our immune system defense is lower. It’s important to stay as healthy as possible during the holiday season because being sick with a long to-do list is a recipe for disaster. Stay healthy during the cold and flu season by taking your vitamins every day and getting plenty of rest every night. Remember nothing is worth losing sleep over. What you can control is only in this present time. “Today’s worry robs us of tomorrow’s happiness.” Stay present. Maybe setting intentions for the rest of the year can help you with this particular thing.
These 7 simple tips have helped me over the years to keep stress at bay, and I hope they help you too.
What do you do during the holidays to stay in the moment and not stress? Comment below with your tips.
If you found these tips helpful, send them to your auntie or someone who is struggling this year, using the share buttons below.
Sending you and yours, all the best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. As always, stay safe!
Thank you so much for reading!
With love & gratitude,
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