5 Tips to Avoid Holiday Stress and Burnout

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holiday stressDo you have holiday stress?  

Many people love the idea of shopping for others, decorating their homes, putting up Christmas trees and having company. For others, the holidays can cause stress and anxiety. Even  people who love the holidays can become “burnt out.” Here are five tips to help avoid holiday stress whether you’re a huge fan of the season or not. 

5 Ways to Avoid Holiday Stress

Shop Online

I never used to shop online. I liked going to the stores and hand picking gifts for people. Then I realized how much stress busy stores caused me. The long lines. The huge crowds. The lack of parking spaces. The cold weather. It all becomes too much. I started online shopping and I’ll never look back. Amazon Prime is my best friend. I can sit in the comfort of my nice warm home and browse online for gifts. Plus, I can shop at any time of the day! 

Pace Yourself

I’m that person who says, “I’m going to shop for everyone early this year so I’m not scrambling at the last minute.” And every single year, guess what I’m doing? Scrambling. I’m still a work in progress myself, but pacing yourself throughout the holidays is important in reducing stress. This year I started Christmas shopping in November. I started making lists of things I want to accomplish over the holidays early. And yes, I’m even decorating early. 

Don’t Forget Self-Care

If there’s space left on our calendars after all the holiday parties, dinners and events, be sure to add yourself to that space. Schedule something just for you. Nails, a haircut, a massage. Anything that involves something you enjoy and something that helps keep you sane. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Say No

If there’s space left on your calendar, don’t feel like you have to fill it up! If you’re invited to an event or holiday gathering and you already feel like your cup is full, do not be afraid to say no. Your emotions and sanity come first and saying “no” is totally okay! 

Remember What Really Matters

I’m guilty of trying to find the perfect gifts for my kids or finding the perfect decor for my home. I’m guilty of trying to make sure everything looks “perfect” for the holidays. But in reality, none of the material things are what matters and I think it’s important for us to remember that.

This year I’m going to try to focus on thoughtfulness over quantity or material things. What really matters is the feeling you create for the ones you love, not the money you spend or the decorations you have. 

What tips do you have for avoiding that holiday burnout?

holiday stress

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