Plan Early, Plan Ahead to Manage Holiday Stress
Welcome to the holiday season, a frenzy of gift-giving holidays, advertising blitzes, holiday gatherings, and activities galore that kicks off shortly after Halloween, build to Thanksgiving and proceeds to gain traction through the close of the year.
Whereas the holiday season is supposed to bring thoughts and emotions of love and happiness, it also brings a lot of holiday stress for many people. In reality, according to a poll online, more than 80% of us find the holiday season to be somewhat or very stressful ranking navigating the holidays on par with asking for a raise!
What is it that makes us all so agitated?
According to the LHSFNA, “The best way to minimize holiday stress is to be aware of the risks and make plans in advance to ease the impacts. The LHSFNA’s Health Promotion Division has summarized some guidance for four of the most common and serious holiday concerns: finances, alcohol, weight gain and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).”
Far from diminishing the excitement of the season,” says Sabitoni, “setting reasonable expectations and managing behavior to achieve them will ensure a safe, positive, more relaxed, and more enjoyable experience for you and your loved ones. Plan for yourself and set a good example for those around you. Make this holiday season your most enjoyable eve.”
According to VeryWellMind, “Putting your plans on paper can show you, in black and white, how realistic they are. If you find a time management planner and fill in the hours with your scheduled activities, being realistic and including driving time and downtime, you will be able to see if you’re trying to pack in too much. Start with your highest priorities, so you will be able to eliminate the less important activities.”
Create Your Budget
For several individuals, the holiday season’s gift-giving and party-throwing commitments add to their holiday stress. The key to mitigating this issue is careful planning. The sky is the limit when it comes to expectations, so the starting point must be the actuality of your own time and financial resources.
If you keep these in mind, you can make a reasonable plan for your involvement in your family’s and friends’ parties and gift exchanges. Don’t go overboard with your spending. Begin making your gift list as quickly as possible. Plan long in advance how much you can justify spending and adhere to it—plan for presents, holiday meals, partying attire, holiday decorations, and mailing fees.
Make a To-Do List
Every holiday season, there appear to be specific practices we would like to maintain, locations you would like to tour, things you want to accomplish, and so on, so you’ve already begun to draft a checklist to stay on top of it all! For example, you divide your inventory into six categories: acts of charity, outdoor adventures, crafts and learning, culinary fun, excursions to take, and unexpected, and write down a few ideas for each. Once you’ve settled on the most valuable ones, you can schedule a time to execute them on the schedule.
Come Up with a List of Gift Ideas Early
The present is a great time to start “creating your list and double-checking it” if you’ve not already! With gift ideas in mind for everyone on your list, you can begin looking for sales and deals to ensure that you stay within your budget.
Make Time for Self-Care
It may appear absurd to “schedule” time for yourself. However, as you create your budget, make a to-do list, and make plans for gifts. You may discover that your free time has vanished! Find time for yourself when planning your holiday festivities. An Epsom salt bath, a rubdown, a long nature walk, and exercising or meditation are all excellent ways to relieve stress and care for your mental and physical health.
