There’s no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy yourself during the holidays. If you feel anxious, you can take steps to reduce your stress and enjoy the festivities.
Get Organized
The biggest cause of stress is not knowing what you need to do. As soon as you realize how much is on your plate, you’ll be surprised at how relieved you’ll feel.
Start by creating a list of things you need to accomplish. This includes:
- Things you need to do for work
- Things you need to do for your business
- Things you need to do for your family and friends
- Things you need to do for your home
Then prioritize your list. Start with the most important items first, and then work your way down.
If you’re struggling to prioritize, here’s a simple technique that works. Ask yourself:
- “Will this make me happier?”
- “Will this make my family happier?”
- “Will this make my spouse/significant other/children/family members happier?”
If the answer is yes, then put it on your list. If the answer is no, then you know that it’s not that important.
Have a clear idea of what you want
Most of us have a clear idea of what we want for the holidays. However, we often find ourselves getting distracted from our goals and instead finding things to worry about.
There are two major things you should focus on during the holidays.
First, you should keep your financial situation in mind. Don’t spend money you don’t have. You can’t afford to be spending money when you already have plenty to live on.
Second, you should focus on your health and well-being. It’s not a time to overeat or drink alcohol excessively. You should make sure you are sleeping enough and that you are taking care of yourself.
Don’t forget that you should be taking breaks from your busy schedule to spend time with family and friends. This is also a good time to re-energize and recharge.
Get rid of distractions
One of the best ways to reduce holiday anxiety is to remove as much stimulation as possible.
To do this, you’ll need to cut out social media, TV, and other sources of distraction.
You’ll also need to stay off the phone.
During the holidays, you’ll have a lot of family and friends coming over, so it’s important to maintain a relaxed atmosphere.
While you may feel like you’ll be out of touch, this is actually an opportunity to build relationships.
Enjoy yourself
When you feel anxious, it’s hard to relax and have fun. In fact, most of us feel this way every day, whether it’s because of work, school, family, or other obligations.
That’s where “self-care” comes into play. When you put yourself first, you can stop feeling so stressed out and enjoy yourself more.
Self-care doesn’t necessarily mean spending money. Instead, it’s about treating yourself as you would treat someone you care about.
Here are four simple ways you can do self-care:
1. Spend time with friends and family.
2. Take a break from work.
3. Get a massage.
4. Eat well.
These are just a few ideas, but it’s important to do what works for you.
Conclusion
Stress, anxiety, and other negative feelings are common during the holidays. Unfortunately, these feelings can also be long-lasting and difficult to shake once the holiday season has passed.
To reduce the amount of stress you feel during the holiday season, you may need to focus on your health and well-being. Here are some ways to accomplish this goal.
Get plenty of sleep. Sleep is essential for maintaining optimal health and helping your body manage stress. If you’re sleeping too little, your stress hormones may start to rise.
Exercise regularly. Exercise is another great way to keep your body healthy and your stress levels low.
Practice mindfulness. This helps you to slow down and enjoy your surroundings instead of being so focused on the negative things that are happening.
Eat nutritious foods. Many people experience stress when they eat unhealthy foods. Focus on consuming foods that are high in protein, fiber, and nutrients.
