There are ways to de-stress your holiday season.
The holiday season is a time of joy, love, and togetherness. For many though, it can be a time of stress and anxiety. Preparing your home for visitors, cooking for what seems like an army, and making sure the kids are having the kind of magical holiday season you remember from your childhood is a lot easier said than done. Spirituality and Practice has a timely list of thirteen ways to take the stress out of your holidays. For the full list check out the full blog posts, but here are a few of the highlights:
Stay Healthy
Many people channel their holiday stresses into unhealthy habits by indulging in all the vices this time of year has to offer. You can still enjoy yourself, but try to avoid common holiday pitfalls like overeating, excessive drinking, and slacking off on your exercise routine. This will help you keep your stress levels low and ought to help you get a head start on some of those New Year’s resolutions that are soon to follow.
Concentrate on Relaxing
This may sound like a contradiction, but it isn’t. Take some time for yourself and let go of your worries. This may come in the form of a few minutes of meditation, yoga, or whatever activity you find most relaxing. Whatever it is you choose to do, make sure you are in a resting position and that you are taking slow and deliberate breaths. Spirituality and Practice recommends turning on some soothing, low-anxiety music as a complement.
Toss Your Hoard
This piece of advice is the most unique and possibly most helpful one on the whole list. The holidays can be a time of massive clutter in your home or apartment, especially if you are hosting guests. Family luggage, discarded wrapping paper, more food than you know what to do with – general clutter can lead to increased stress. Take the time each day to ask yourself “Do I still need this?” If the answer is no, throw it away and it will feel like you’ve thrown a bit of your stress away with it.
If you commit to following these tips, you’re sure to have a peaceful holiday season. You’ll be able to lose your stress in favor of what really matters: spending quality time with friends and family.