The holiday season can be a wonderful time when we get to gather with friends and family and celebrate being together. However, it can also be stressful given that we often have to plan dinners, buy gifts, and decorate the house. While stress can be abundant during the holiday season, there are things you can do to keep it from greatly affecting you. Here are five ways to lower your stress levels during the holiday season.
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1. Plan Things Out Way in Advance
The holiday season becomes substantially more stressful when we don’t have a plan in place. This includes everything from the budgeting that we need to do in order to make sure we have enough money for presents to coordinating various gatherings throughout the holiday season. While you can’t control everything that happens, planning ahead can minimize the number of stressful surprises that you encounter. Plan things out way in advance to make the holidays easier for you.
2. Find Products That Help You Relax and Unwind
Having self-care products on hand that help you to relax and unwind when you need it most can be instrumental in helping you get through the holiday season. For example, if you’re someone who’s into natural wellness, you might consider adding CBD products you ingest or apply to your skin to help you unwind. You can carry them with you whenever you feel like you need to take a breather and regroup.
3. Adopt Relaxation Exercises
Relaxation exercises are more valuable than you may think. While you can’t control what happens during the holiday season, you can control how you respond to it. Some find that relaxation exercises like mindfulness meditation allow them to be more grounded throughout the day. Meanwhile, others will adopt exercises like deep breathing that they can use no matter where they are. See what relaxation exercises there are and what might work for you.
4. Squeeze in Some “You” Time
The holiday season is a time of giving and spending time with others. But that doesn’t mean you have to dedicate every second of every day to these activities. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to take some time for yourself. It could be a day. It could also be just a couple of minutes. No matter how long it may be, it’s often necessary to help you get yourself back together.
5. Learn to Go With the Flow
Some people are resistant to change and spontaneity. However, when it comes to the holidays, there’s always going to be a little bit of chaos. Learning how to go with the flow instead of trying to fight it can make it less stressful for you. It may take some time, but it’s a lesson that will serve you greatly in the future.
The holidays are stressful, but they don’t have to consume your life. Use the five strategies above to battle stress during the holiday season and make it lighter; you will be able to enjoy the holidays without letting your mental health suffer.