Holiday Survival Guide: Tips for a Stress-Free Season

The holidays are one of the busiest times of the year! Therefore, stress is bound to arise. Overwhelming yourself with too many events to attend or a long list of “to-dos” might be the root of your stress. Your busy schedule and jam-packed week will definitely catch up to you and have an effect on your body.

Stress can impact the body in many different ways. Your physical health can be affected by the amount of stress you endure daily. Stress will suppress your immune system, making it easier for you to get sick, causing your gut health to fluctuate, and speeding up the aging process. Of course, there are bigger risks like a possible heart attack and falling into a deep depressive  mental state too.

Stress makes your body tired, it’s overworked day in and day out, so follow these tips to destress. You’ll need these as we head into the thick of the holiday season!

Journal

Journaling is one of the best ways to take time for yourself and have a moment of peace. Writing in a journal is very open-ended. You can write daily affirmations, what you’re grateful for, or a recap of what you did that day. Consider setting a daily writing prompt that could be helpful by jotting down anything and everything that caused you to stress so that you can later reflect on it. Even if you are feeling angry or happy, writing is a great way to better understand yourself. This can help you release emotions or tension surrounding this particular situation and help you move forward with your day in a positive way. Looking back at your journal entries is a helpful tip for adjusting how you go about solving problems or switching your outlook to a more optimistic perspective. If you’re new to journaling, add a cute bullet journal to your Christmas list!

Establish Boundaries

If you’ve never been able to stick to your boundaries and say no to events or favors when you already have too much on your plate, it’s time to learn. Setting boundaries between your work life, family time, social events, and me-time helps create balance. Not being able to say no can be a major stressor. It is okay to politely decline something when you already have so much going on. With holiday parties, family gatherings, and fun community events, don’t feel obligated to commit to it all. It’s important to leave some room in your schedule for downtime and some relaxation. Enjoy spending the night with your family and loved ones this season and make time for the moments that truly matter to you!

Start a Self-Care Routine

Engaging in a self-care routine can reduce anxiety and stress while improving your happiness. Focusing on your skin care is a great form of self-care, especially since stress can speed up the process of aging and wrinkles. To make sure you’re staying on top of your youthful glow, incorporate anti-aging skin care into your routine. A nice warm bubble bath or shower after a long day filled with holiday festivities is another great way to incorporate self-care into your busy schedule. It’s important to recognize that you need to set time to take care of yourself and your body. This time will allow you to mentally reset by releasing the stress and tension you have built up. After a successful self-care routine, you should be able to carry on with your day feeling rejuvenated!

Exercise

If exercise is already in your daily routine, keep it going during the holidays! Even on Christmas day exercise is still a possibility. Exercise is a great way to relieve some stress you have built up from the holiday season. Doing any sort of movement that makes your body feel good and that you enjoy will make it easy for you to commit to your routine even during hectic times. Taking a quick 20-minute walk before cooking Christmas dinner will allow you to get some fresh air, your heart rate up, and your stress out. Establishing a quick yoga routine is another great way to incorporate movement during the holidays. Take your yoga mat with you if you’re traveling and practice some meditation after your morning yoga flow. Staying fit and stress-free this season is easily achievable.

It’s time to put the shopping and cookie baking on hold and take some time to relax, breathe and destress. Surround yourself with the people you love and forget about your worries. Try to enjoy the moment by leaving the stress at the door during this season.