5 Ways to Reduce the Stress of Christmas |
Posted: December 9, 2017 |
The Christmas season can be particularly stressful for many people. Hosting guests, buying presents, shopping frenzies, and meals can be problematic. It can seem like the whole holiday season has a rushed feeling. Add in little details like cleaning, wrapping presents, home decorating, and perfecting the look on that new slim artificial Christmas tree and the result is a huge amount of stress. Although this increase in stress levels might be temporary, it can still be harmful. To make the season easier, follow some tips to reduce the stress experienced during Christmas time. Thorough PlanningMaking lists and planning out tasks can help lessen the frazzled running around and sense of urgency. Start planning before November. Make lists for meal ingredients and gifts, along with activities and events. By planning things out, tasks can be completed sooner, and the season can be enjoyed for the memories it offers. Try to spread things out so you do not spend the entire time racing against the clock. Avoid OverextendingIt may be a good idea to reduce the number of tasks people take on for the holiday season. Many people agree to handle too many tasks on their own. Also, all those old traditions just might not work anymore. It is okay to refuse to do something. Choose a few meaningful traditions that are most important. Avoid committing to attending too many gatherings, particularly if other plans have been made. Ask for HelpThere is no shame in admitting you need a little extra help or a few more hands. One person can only do so many things at a time. Instead of running around from one task to another in a panicked frenzy that never equals completion, ask for help. Let others in the family wrap presents, finish the final decorating, or drop the stack of cards off at the post office. Give yourself enough reasonable time to complete a task before moving to another. Spread out bigger tasks such as food and gift shopping. If you start early enough, you can have these tasks completed before the big day arrives. Shop OnlineDuring the Christmas season, shopping can be a hectic nightmare. Everyone is stressed, grouchy, and bustling around buying gifts. The crowded stores and long lines can be stressful all on their own. You can avoid getting stuck in the mess by buying your gifts online before the season begins. If you have a lot of presents, keep a list of which one is for each person. By avoiding store crowds, you can use the time you would have spent to do something else, such as having a movie night or taking a scenic drive to look at decorated neighborhoods. Take Time to RelaxIt is important to make time to decompress and relax. As it gets closer to the planned day, you may feel even more stressed as you try to get everything done. Experiencing too much stress for prolonged periods can be bad for your health. Too much stress can weaken the immune system, worsens existing conditions, and can cause seasonal depression, anxiety, fatigue, and insomnia. When you feel stressed, try some deep breathing for a few minutes. If you find that an unavoidable task is the source of your stress, take time afterward to recover. Make time to allow your body and mind to rejuvenate, such as a hot bubble bath or watching a movie in your most comfortable lazy clothes. Ultimately, the goal is to make the Christmas holiday enjoyable for everyone. You cannot enjoy the family and friends or the memories if you are not physically and mentally present when they are happening. Generally, stress is next to impossible to avoid. Either we stress ourselves or others stress us. The trick is in the efforts you take to reduce the stress as much as possible.
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