Plan Ahead
Having a plan helps any situation go smoother. Whether you’re trying to get the family together for Christmas dinner or simply figuring out what to buy for gifts, a plan goes a long way in managing stress. Taking time to think through things before they happen can help you mentally prepare for what’s to come, but don’t let sticking to the plan become its own stressor. Every plan has flaws, and sometimes there are things we can’t plan for. Being willing to admit that will help you adapt to whatever St. Nick has in store for you.
Make a Budget
Money is one of the leading causes of stress and disruption around Christmas. It’s easy to let our finances control us throughout the season. Everything starts moving quickly as soon as Thanksgiving hits, and there’s no break for at least a month. Because of this, and all of the various extra spending we do around the holidays, it’s a good idea to create a budget before the hustle and bustle. Having an established budget will help relieve stress when you buy last-minute presents or have to buy the family lunch on the go.
Set Realistic Expectations
It’s not all going to be perfect! As soon as you can come to terms with that, you can feel the weight rolling off your shoulders. When we hold our holiday season traditions and get-togethers to an unreasonable standard of perfection, they will inevitably let us down. Something will go wrong, change or fail—or something new and fun might even happen! Allow yourself to experience that dinner party with your peers rather than trying to frantically pull all the strings in the background.
Say No to Good Things
It’s a busy time of year. Sometimes it feels like you have something going on every day, and you’re supposed to be off work, relaxing! Invites come left and right on top of the annual family gatherings. For every event, take the time to communicate with your household and yourself to decide if you “need” or even want to go. It’s ok to say no, respectfully of course, to good things. In a season full of parties, dinners, events and more, it is sometimes better for us to say no to a few. Giving yourself the ability to do so will free you up to be more present at the events that are most important.
Let Yourself Be Present
You may have noticed a trend in these tips–being present. It’s cliche and all, but your presence is a present to those around you. If you burned the pie or left a wrapped gift at home, oh well. It’s a small thing. Don’t let the stressors and headaches from the season pull you away from enjoying it. At the end of the day, all the events, parties, dinners, gatherings, etc. are about coming together with joy and love. So let yourself do just that, be there with joy. You get to see friends and family you may not often see which is so joyful! And the people you will be around are people that you have invited out of love, or they have invited you out of love. Take a moment every day through the season to look for the love, and you’ll find it abundantly.
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