The holidays can bring about more demands. With higher demands, we can stress out. The holiday season is supposed to be about joy and gathering with family but it’s not always joyous for everyone. If you’re wondering what some of the most common stresses of the holiday season are and looking for holiday stress tips to manage it, you’ve come to the right place.
I’m going to share some of the more common stressors that arise during the holiday season and then give you some tips that will help you overcome those stressors so you can enjoy the holiday season a little more.
Common holiday stresses and holiday stress tips to get you through the season With Them
Not Getting it All Done
The “I can’t get it all done†mentality really brings about holiday stress. Between trying to host family gatherings to gift shopping and everything in between, the holidays can make you feel like you simply cannot get it all done. This stressor can be reduced when you take a moment to slow down. Sit down and figure out how you can delegate some tasks and learn to say no. It’s okay to stop doing everything during the holiday season. This year try saying no more often and asking the family to help with the things you simply don’t foresee having enough time to do.
Starting early, rather than waiting until the last minute to get things done is a good idea too. People tend to be more stresses when it gets down to the wire, and there is not a whole lot of time left to tackle that holiday to-do list. You will be much more relaxed if you don’t over-plan, and if you start decorating, shopping and baking early.
Unable to Afford it All
With holiday commercials and displays starting to show up earlier and earlier, some as early as August, it’s no wonder one of the holiday stresses that arrive is the thought that you can’t afford it all. Listen, the holidays are not meant to be a time when families go broke trying to buy everything. The best way to cope with this holiday stressor is to set a spending budget. This budget needs to cover entertaining guests, décor, and gift-giving. Figure out how much you can afford for the holiday and don’t feel bad sticking to this budget.
Check out Pinterest for homemade gift ideas too. There are a number of things that you can make as gifts for your loved ones, for just a fraction of the cost! My DIY beauty section has some great ideas for soaps, bath bombs and sugar scrubs. You could make and use these for stocking stuffers, or make an assortment of these items to fill in gift baskets. Some of our readers’ favorites include French Vanilla Coffee Sugar Scrub, Homemade All Natural Lemon Soap, and Vanilla & Lavender Soap.
Difficult Family Members
While I hate to bring it up, we all have a family member or two that are just so difficult to get along with. From their high expectations to outspoken opinions and everything in between, there are many families who have those difficult family members causing major holiday stress. Let’s face it, there’s no one size fits all solution to coping with difficult family members, but I highly recommend you prepare yourself for these family members. Try to avoid too much engagement with these types of family members by focusing on those family members you’re closest to that don’t stress you out.
In conclusion, there are so many other holiday stresses that arrive from September through December. The stress that you’re feeling doesn’t have to take you out for the count though. You can easily work to find new ways to cope with holiday stress. Using my tips I shared above, try to morph each of the tips to cope with holiday stresses into a way that works for who you are. It’s the holiday season, I don’t want to see you all stressed out, I want to hear that you’re having a grand old time with family and friends this holiday season.
