The most wonderful time of the year can also get incredibly frantic. With all the plans that fell through this year, you might be feeling some pressure to make up for them with the holidays.
But be careful — the festive season can get stressful really fast. Read on to get some ideas on how to cope with all the holiday stress and end the year on a positive note.
Related: 5 Best Christmas Gift For Ladies
Tips to Cope with the Holiday Stress
1. Set some boundaries
Understanding your limits and respecting them is a healthy approach to the holiday season. Don’t feel like you have to say yes to everything — you don’t! You don’t have to host every party and make sure that things are going perfectly all the time.
Among the many lessons of 2020 is that not everything is under your control. Memorize that mantra and repeat it when you need to. You also don’t need to attend all the gatherings you’re invited to.
Given the situation with the pandemic, it might actually be safer to skip most of them. People will surely understand. Instead, remember what’s important, be it your family or your health, and put things into perspective.
2. Rein in your spending
There’s nothing wrong with splurging on yourself or your loved ones around the holidays. But first, know whether you can actually afford to do so this year.
Your personal finances might have taken a hit from the events of the pandemic. If that’s the case, it’s more than acceptable to cut back on the holiday spending.
What you can do is apply the concept of minimalism which is simply to limit unnecessary spending and focus on what’s important.
A survey showed that most people set a budget of almost $1,000 for the holidays, but that could go towards urgent bills or an emergency budget. Reduce your spending by making your celebrations more intimate, crafting your own decor, or even your gifts.
3. Turn memorable photos into unique gifts
Stay-at-home orders gave rise to several photo trends this year, with many people sharing sentimental photographs from their past. These throwback photos go way back to childhood and people say it’s been a simple yet effective way of coping with difficult times.
That’s why jumping aboard this trend could be a great idea for gift-giving this year. Printed photos tell a story, and giving someone the chance to recall better times is something that everyone could certainly use today.
It’s an affordable present too which can easily fit into your 2020 holiday budget. The photo coupons featured on Groupon show how you can easily get great deals on unique printed photos, whether they’re on a poster, a holiday card, a mug, or in a complete photo book.
These kinds of gifts will be very meaningful and much appreciated by the receiver. Plus they are very simple to acquire taking away some of the stress that comes with buying presents during the Christmas period. And isn’t that what gift giving is all about?
4. Make time for healthy habits
It’s easy to get lost in all the holiday chaos but it’s important to keep your health a priority. That way, you can actually enjoy the season and create some wonderful memories.
Try to cultivate healthy bedtime habits as sleep, or a lack of, contributes to your stress level. Make time for exercise even if it’s just 20 minutes of cardio or half an hour of yoga.
And know your limits with food. Overindulging can only create a cycle of depression and can easily lead to bingeing on comforting treats.
5. Be flexible with your plans
Finally, head into the holiday season with a mindset for flexibility and acceptance. Plans could change at the last minute especially with the pandemic still around.
Expect that things might not be perfect at all times. The holidays are meant to be enjoyed with people you love, so make an effort to do just that!