4 Ways to Reduce Holiday Anxiety

When you hear the word “holidays” does your heart beat faster because of excitement or anxiety?

Do you feel yourself jump up for joy or do you feel your body retract inward?

Whether you welcome the holidays with open arms or are reluctant, everyone can agree that it all comes with some stress.  

This is the reality.

So, how do you handle your stress and anxiety during this season?

How can you work through it and enjoy the holiday season and everything it promises?

Here are 4 ways to do just that…

1. Have a plan.

• I can’t stress this enough.  When you have a plan, you have a map to guide you through all of the tasks that need to be done.
• So much of your anxiety comes from the unexpected.  You can eliminate most of the unexpected when you have a plan in place.  Plan for events.  Plan meals.  Plan where your money is going.  
• You are in control.

Use this FREE Holiday planner to help you plan your holiday season.

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2. Take Care of Yourself

• Even though there is so much going on, you NEED to make time for yourself. A hot bath, a workout, some quiet reading.  Whatever you need to do to fill your cup. 
• You must center yourself, especially when you feel like you’re being pulled in 10 different directions.  

3. Get Some Sleep

• Staying up late to wrap presents doesn’t help you. 
• Anxiety peaks when you’re tired. 
• It can quickly turn into a vicious circle.  You don’t sleep because you’re anxious and then your anxiety peaks because you are tired.  See number 2, take care of yourself.  Get some sleep.

4. Let Others Help You

• Listen carefully… you do NOT have to do everything by yourself. 
• You do not have to make things from scratch. 
• You do not have to attend every single party. 
• You do not have to buy every person you know a gift. 
• You do not have to get every single thing on your kid’s wish list

Here’s what you CAN do…

Let the bakery make the Christmas cupcakes.

Attend the party you know you will enjoy, with the people you actually like. 

Shop for the people who are dearest to you.  Everyone else doesn’t matter. 

Pick a couple things from your child’s wish list to be from you and then ask family or friends to take care of the other items. 

(P.S. Your kid does NOT need everything on the list. They just want it.  Not getting everything is a good lesson for them to learn. That is life and everything will be ok without the extra stuff). 

So here are the exact steps you need to take:

1. Download the Keep the Holidays SIMPLE workbook and start planning.
2. Schedule some time for yourself.  Put it in your calendar and treat this as an important appointment.
3. Go to bed a little earlier.  Don’t sacrifice your sleep for anything.
4. Allow others to help you. You deserve a little break.
5. Enjoy the holiday season!

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That’s it.  

Have a wonderful holiday season.

Wishing you health, happiness and a holly jolly Christmas!

-Brynn