How to Stress Less This Holiday Season

I was talking with a colleague the other day about being ready for the holidays. We agreed that we didn't feel ready for the day, let alone the holidays!

Seriously. What is it about the holidays? Why do they get stressful, and what can we do about it?

Sources of Holiday Stress

A lot of the stress we feel during the holidays comes from:

Unrealistic expectations we place on ourselves
Eating, drinking, and spending too much
Too much (or not enough) togetherness.

Tho Good News

For the most part, these stressors are self-inflicted and unnecessary. In other words, we have a choice in the matter. We can do things differently. It's really that simple.

How to free up time for healthy activities.jpg

Something I Find Helpful

When I feel stressed during the holidays, there's one question that makes a big difference. I ask myself this:

Am I engaging in mindless consumption, or mindful appreciation?

Mindlessly consuming (food, drinks, excess "stuff," entertainment, etc.) makes us feel:

Unhealthy

Out of control
Overloaded and bogged down
Stressed
Ungrateful
Unhappy

But mindful appreciation can help us to feel the opposite -- healthy, happy, relaxed, grateful, and in control.

When I consciously approach the holidays with this mindset, I'm better able to:

Appreciate the beauty of the season.
Take a step back from situations that trigger me, and realize that I'm likely stressing over something silly.
Recognize others' good qualities, instead of their weaknesses.
Savor some delicious food, in smaller quantities, without stuffing myself.
Keep things simple.
Focus on what's truly important.
Count my blessings.
Enjoy the little things (the glow of Christmas lights, reading books with my kids, laughter with family and friends, sitting by a warm fire, feeling comfortable and cozy).