Tips For De-stressing Over The Holidays

Just five more sleeps until Christmas morning! Are you ready and all set to go for Tuesday morning’s festivities? I’m just about ready, but, nevertheless, feel a little anxious that I’ve forgotten something. That feeling is probably thanks to the amount of to-dos I still have on my list of deadlines for work, but all of that will be done by the end of the day tomorrow, and I’ll finally (finally!) be able to relax and enjoy all the excitement that comes with Christmas and New Years.

For those of you who can relate and tend to feel a little on edge or overwhelmed in general this time of year, I put together a list of eight ways to de-stress and decompress. Scroll on for my tips, and picture me over here trying to take a cue from my own book, too!

How To De-stress This Holiday:

1. The very first thing on my list? Learn to say no! This time of year can be especially hard on people who suffer from social anxiety (like me), so go ahead and decline that holiday party invitation that’s been weighing on your mind. If the host is a true friend, they’ll understand. When you graciously decline, though, maybe suggest planning a post-holiday lunch date to catch up.

2. Don’t overextend your creativity on presents. If you’re still buying gifts for people, consider asking your family members to give you their specific wish lists. That way you can be sure you’re getting them something they’ll actually use and love.

3. Eat healthy foods. Even if you trade in just one carb-heavy dinner this holiday season for one packed with vegetables instead, you’ll inevitably feel more energetic and less stressed.

4. Turn off the television and play a board game. Bright digital lights from a TV can cause eye strain and anxiety, so dim your table lamps, turn Christmas music on low in the background, and get back to basics with a family game night.

5. Give yourself license to skip the hassle of wrapping gifts this Christmas. Instead of struggling with tape, scissors, and perfect lines, use bags (or even fabric) to loosely hide your presents from their recipients’ view.

6. Think of quick yet effective ways to give back this Christmas. I was going to suggest volunteering at a homeless shelter, but then my mind started spiraling at the thought of trying to work something like that into an already-packed holiday schedule this late in the game. Instead, go buy some coats, gloves, and hats, and donate them to your local homeless shelter.

7. Keep up with your routine. Sometimes, breaking away from the activities you’re used to during the rest of the year can make you feel thrown off, so stick with your weekly yoga class, morning meet-ups, and bedtimes this holiday season.

8. Stop for a moment at least once a day to think about the big picture. Think about what Christmas means to you, or try visualizing a couple of positive goals you want to make for the new year ahead. You could even simply tell yourself that this, too, shall pass in just a couple more weeks! Having a mini check-in with yourself puts things into perspective, and can help you recenter before tackling another potentially stressful holiday to-do list item.

How do you de-stress over the holidays? Or are you the type of person who can sail through Christmas and New Years with a big ol’ smile on your face despite the chaos surrounding you? I wish I could be more like that latter group of folks, but, alas, I think I’m always going to be just a tiny bit high strung this time of year. Even still, I always look forward to these festive holidays, and wouldn’t trade the occasion for anything in the world. Leave your own tips, if you’ve got them, in the comments below.

*Photos by Chelsea Laine Francis from my 2014 feature for Camille Styles all about 10 Easy Ways to Deck Out Your Home for the Holidays