Everyone loves the holidays, right? Family gatherings, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, making merry, hot toddies, great food and presents galore. Peace on earth, goodwill toward men. All that good stuff.
That, at least, is the ideal version. The truth is, holidays are stressful for just about everyone. As much as we love our families, they be an enormous cause of stress. And some people are stressed because they have recently lost a loved one and are facing their first major celebration without them.
Taking the stress out of holidays
The good news: It doesn’t have to be awful if you follow these tips on taking care of yourself and learning how to stay sane during the holidays.
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Learn to say no. Just because some asks doesn’t mean you have to say yes. And that includes, you, by the way. If you hear yourself saying, “But I’ve always done ___,” stop and reconsider your choices. Will the world come to an end if you say “no”?
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Manage your time. Just like at work, write down and prioritize your tasks. Focus first on what is important and urgent. Get others to help. Sure, you’ve always cooked the entire holiday meal. Get over it. If you have trouble letting go, think of it as training others and improving their skills. You can’t do everything and no one — least of all you — should expect that.
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Take small steps. Do a little here, a little there and the next thing you know, you’re ready to celebrate and relax.
- Lower your expectations but not your standards. One way to make yourself crazy — and to disappoint yourself — is having expectations. “I expect everyone to get along,” “I expect a new Maserati in the driveway on Christmas morning,” “I expect Uncle Albert to stop being a jerk,” “I expect people to believe and feel and act the way I do.”
Truly — that way lies madness, as the bard said. Loosen up. Meet your own expectations and let the rest go. That being said, do not tolerate intolerable behavior. See “mean people suck” below.
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Focus on your own joy. You are not responsible for how other people feel. You cannot make others feel merry and bright, but you can lead by example. Some of that sparkle could rub off.
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Watch your wallet. Don’t overspend. People are just as happy to get something small but meaningful.
- Forgive — yourself and others. There is no good time to carry grudges, and the holiday season is at the top of the list. Remember: Holding grudges is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. All it does is steal your own joy.
- Be kind. Mean people suck. Not only that, they are horrible to be around. Don’t be That Person.
- Drop the judgment. We are all different. Respect that. Be inclusive and be tolerant.
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Count your blessings, not your woes. Start with “I woke up this morning” and go from there.
- Move. Rollerblade, sled, parasail, run, walk, swim, ice skate — whatever. Physical activity releases feel-good endorphins. Plus, you’ll sleep better.
- Take a break. Listen to music. Read a book. Walk outside and name, out loud, everything you see. Do anything that redirects your attention from whatever it is that’s making your crazy.
- Watch your alcohol intake. Alcohol is a depressant, so if you’re already teetering on the edge of “woe is me,” alcohol is not going to help. However, if you know a glass of wine will keep you from killing Uncle Albert, I say go for it.
- Rubber-band therapy. Put a rubber band around your wrist. Every time you start to stress, nag, overdo, boss or scream, snap the band. It will derail that train nicely.
How about you? Do you have any special tips on how to keep from going crazy during the holidays? Please comment below…I can always use more strategies!