Peaceful Holidays: 12 Stress-Free Strategies
With its sparkling lights and joyful music, the holiday season often carries a less talked about companion: Added stress. Eight in ten Americans say the expectations and events around the holidays increase their focus, and many say it causes them to get less sleep. That might include you.
It’s the time of year when our calendars overflow with commitments, and our to-do lists stretch longer than Santa’s. Getting caught up in overdoing, overthinking, and over-expecting is easy.
With a few simple strategies, you can unwrap the happiness of the holidays without worrying, being overwhelmed, or anxious.
Here Are 12 Stress-Busting Strategies for a Peaceful Holiday Season
#1 Set Realistic Expectations: The Perfectly Imperfect Holiday
First, let go of the idea of a “perfect” holiday. It is a myth that does not happen. Embrace a perfectly imperfect holiday instead.
This means accepting that not everything will go as planned, which is okay. Uncle Joe may show up late. Someone may not like your gravy, and your table decorations might turn out differently than you planned. But the laughter, conversations, and memories are what truly matter.
