Quick Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress by Jackie Martin

For many of us, the holiday season is a stressful time. Whether this arises from family conflict, personal expectations, or budgeting difficulties, you are not alone. Below are some quick tips to help you skate through the stress and settle into the season with ease.

1.  Avoid family conflict by taking a new approach.

It might be a good idea to communicate to your loved ones whether there are any topics that you’d like to avoid during your gathering, like religion, politics, and points of personal pain. This can look like taking aside a trusted family member before dinner and explaining to them why you want these topics off of the table. If tough topics still come up, have a game plan for getting the convo back on the rails. It’s a good idea to have a few conversation starters in your back pocket, should this situation arise.

2.  Set clear, realistic boundaries.

Creating boundaries is often easier said than done, and it can be even harder when you’re the one hosting. Having a clear understanding of how long your guests will be in town, whether they have transportation, and where they’ll be staying is a great starting point. Are you willing and able to open your home to them, if they can’t find accommodations? Are you willing to spend additional time driving your guests around town? By considering these questions, you can determine which boundaries might need to be set in place. For example, if you know that driving your guests around town is bound to induce anxiety, talk with them about rental car options. Having these conversations early on is essential in creating a comfortable visit for both parties.

3.  Implement sleep and gentle movement.

Sleep and physical movement sometimes fall to the wayside during the holiday season, and understandably so! There’s often too much to do, and way too little time to get it done. Try to be conscious of your sleeping and movement habits around this time of the year. Aim for at least eight hours of sleep per night, and experiment with incorporating gentle, sustainable exercise. If the idea of going to the gym is super-un-fun, grab your gear and take a nice walk around the neighborhood. Too cold? Consider investing in a compact treadmill that can be placed under your work desk, or in your living room.

4.  Take time for yourself.

Say it with me: It’s okay to step away! If things are getting too contentious, or you just need a breath of fresh air, it’s okay to take a moment for yourself. Take your dog on a walk around the block, excuse yourself to go pick up something from the corner store, or just hole up in your room for a few. Whatever actions you need to take to center yourself, take them. It’s always a good idea, however, to communicate to at least one person where you’re going, so as to avoid worry or concern.

5.  Budget early on.

Take a load off of yourself by creating a clear budget ahead of time. Managing this list can be made even easier by using Excel, allowing you to make adjustments and tally your totals way more quickly. You can even do some low-budget gift brainstorming with the help of AI services like ChatGPT. There are also so many DIY gifts that are not only fun to make, but pretty easy on the wallet. Think sugar scrubs, bracelets, and ornaments (to name a few!)