Top 10 Ways to Manage Holiday Stress, Part 2

As mentioned in part 1 of my post, although holiday stress is inevitable, it doesn’t have to derail your celebrations. As we get ready to close out on another (long) year, it’s important to take stock of some areas that contribute to stress. Trust me, these are strategies you can definitely take into the new year.

6. Reflect on a regular basis. This is something that I started doing awhile ago and strongly recommend that you do the same. Reflecting is an active, intentional time where you think about a topic or issue and flesh through some sticking points, lessons learned, and ways to improve. I recommend looking at the various aspects of your life such as family, work, and leisure time and ask yourself how balanced you are in these areas, Of course, there will be more areas as you reflect regularly but the three listed above are a good starting point.

7. Boundary Set. When it comes to boundaries, it’s easy to get caught up with well meaning activities. However, when those activities take over other aspects of your life or cause you to not do some things such as exercise, that’s when your boundary radar needs to go up. Managing holiday stress needs to come with clear-cut boundaries otherwise you will be worn out.

8. Re-work your sleep schedule. If you have little people in your life, it’s easy to prioritize sleep for them! Managing stress means that you prioritize your sleep. Take advantage of a reduced work schedule and add some shut-eye to your day. Even an increase of 15-30 minutes of sleep can make a world of difference in your overall outlook.

9. Connect with others, intentionally. Although Zoom fatigue is real, make it a point to connect with people you care about. Studies show that social connections are important and isolation can lead to anxiety and depression. Go on a walk with a neighbor or catch up with a friend via phone on your next solo walk. You’ll be amazed at how good you feel not only physically but emotionally as well.

10. Celebrate your wins. Sometimes life can feel like a grind however, taking stock of the things that went well in your life in 2021 is vitally important. Reflect on the big things yes, but also on the little things. They matter. Write them down in a journal or somewhere you can read it in the near future. It’s okay to pat yourself on the back every now and then.

Remember, managing stress is an art. Try these and other ways to manage stress not only during the holidays but everyday. Your health depends on it.