Seven Steps for Managing Holiday Stress

The holidays are supposed to be a time of family, togetherness and joy. Instead, many of us end up feeling overwhelmed, stressed and fatigued. To make matters worse, we often respond to that stress by overeating or otherwise abandoning our healthy diet. 

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. The following are a few tips for managing your stress over the holidays (and the rest of the year, too, for that matter):


#1: Stay Organized. A lot of stress during the holidays comes from feeling overwhelmed, and feeling as though you are running out of time to get things accomplished. But you know your deadlines - the holidays happen at the same time every year. So start planning, buying and baking early enough that everything doesn’t pile up on you at once.

#2: Learn to Say No. Take on only as much as you feel you can handle, and that you have the time for. Giving yourself room to relax and decompress during the holidays is more important than yet another holiday party.

#3: Ask For Help. You can’t do it all over the holidays. The best way to get relief is to ask for help. The benefit? Not only will life be more manageable, but you’ll be sharing your time with folks you care about (and who care about you).

#4: Lower Your Expectations. If you aren’t able to hire an interior decorator, the chances of you making your house look like the North Pole in time for your holiday gathering are slim. Realize that not every present is going to look like it was gift-wrapped at a department store and not every meal is going to be gourmet.

#5: Stick to a Budget. By creating (and sticking to) a budget, you will know how much you are comfortably able to spend, and for what. Remember that the purpose of the holidays is not to spend a lot of money - it’s a time to gather with loved ones.

#6: Think Positively. If you’re a worst-case scenario kind of person, try to put a positive spin on things instead. Being stressed about things that may not happen isn’t productive, and can take energy away from accomplishing things that will happen. Learn to expect the unexpected, but also realize that the unexpected can often be good.

#7: Let It Go. Holidays often drum up a lot of family baggage and unnecessary drama. Accepting your family for who they are and how they act, and learning to let things go, will do a lot as far as reducing stress. Some things just don’t change, and the best way to deal with these challenges is to accept them and move on, as difficult as that may be.