9 Ways to Have a Stress-Free Holiday

Let’s face it, this year has been hard, and going into the holidays still dealing with Mad Dog 2020 (anyone out there remember that?) isn’t making anything easier. Do we visit family? Do we stay home? Do I go inside the store or buy online? Aaaaahhhh, this year is so difficult!. Although my over calculating COVID watching husband has us staying super safe, it’s still overwhelming.

The holidays are supposed to be a wonderful time filled with fun, food, family, parties, and friends but at the end of the day, this all comes with stress. The planning, shopping, wrapping (my personal fav), too much food, travel and so on. It can be a lot to prep for, but in light of the current state of the world, there are ways we can remain calm and positive during the holidays.  

How is this possible you ask? Here are my helpful tips to help keep the stress 6 feet away (get it) so you can focus on the sunshine without feeling drained, stressed and overwhelmed.

Try these out and let me know how they work for you.

1.) Plan ahead and order early
It might already be too late. Just kidding, but seriously you really need to get your gifts ordered now if you’re shopping online. Everyone is telling us that everyone is shopping online. One thing to explore is to support your local shops – they’re struggling. Another avenue to consider is prepping your own DIY gifts. These are always my favorite and the holidays are the perfect time to test your crafty side. Begin thinking about ideas that your friends and family will love. Heads up… I’m sharing my favorite homemade ideas next week!  You don’t have to start making everything now but get started on your game plan and start gathering supplies.

2.) Be flexible and realistic
Coping with stress these days is hard enough, now add in the holidays? Working to cope with the things that don’t go perfectly right will help you survive December. Try to have an outlook that nothing is ever perfect and the hiccup will pass. Be realistic and mentally ready for the imperfections that you know will happen. Remember what really matters – your health, your loved ones health and the beautiful world around us. The bumps that WILL go wrong during the holidays won’t be remembered years from now. So, enjoy those you are celebrating with and keep the perspective of what’s important.  

3.) Stick to a budget
I have this problem where I want everyone to have the perfect and lavish gift each year. Then when I tally my holiday shopping receipts (yes, I keep a spreadsheet), I start to freak out. It’s a wise idea to plan a budget and do your best to stick to it. Be sure to record all holiday-related expenses (including wrapping paper, bows, décor, etc.). All these little things add up.

4.) Be mindful of your health
This time of year, it’s really easy to splurge and overindulge in less than healthy foods. We’re all guilty of it and the holidays are rough on the waistline. But you can take steps to stay healthy during the holidays. Eat mindfully. When you're eating, sit back and allow yourself to enjoy those incredible holiday flavors. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and limit your intake of high-calorie drinks. Maintain your workout routine. This year you might not have that standard jam-packed party schedule, so you may have time to keep a schedule. Even a 15-minute workout in the morning and/or evening, or an afternoon walk is helpful to keep a schedule and maintain healthy habits. Pick healthy substitutes. Trade mashed potatoes with mashed sweet potatoes. Consider bean-based dips or hummus instead of mayo and cheese versions (this is hard, I know). And don’t forget your vegetables. A favorite is still my Maple Dijon Roasted Veggies.

5.) Practice mindfulness
Mental health is a thing this year. I’ve certainly experienced new stressful, anxious feelings throughout the year. So if you’re feeling down and need help to cope this holiday, be sure to practice mindfulness and cope with the stress. Meditate. Focus on the present. Reflect on holidays from the past. Acknowledge your feelings in that moment and relax your body. Be sure to visit my 10 Ways to Boost Your Mood for more tips on practicing mindfulness.

6.) Practice gratitude
Take time to notice and reflect upon the things you are thankful for. It will help you experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even yet, have a stronger immune system. This year, I am thankful for my health. For my time with my husband, my comfortable and safe home, for the ability to walk out my door and hike in the wilderness, for my 2 healthy dogs and for my family – even if they are 1,500 miles away.

7.) Reach out virtually to those you can’t be with
In the times of 2020, staying connected is difficult, but being connected to those you care about is also important to your health and should be maintained. Although you might not be able to wrap your arms around your loved ones, video chatting can still be a full experience. You can still see their face, hear their voice and laughter, and still stay connected. Make time for these calls and have fun with it. Cook or have a meal together, have a happy hour cocktail, play a game (if you have the same tabletop games you could play Battleship or Yahtzee). Houseparty, which is a video chat app, allows users to play games virtually through the app. Do you have any other ideas for making virtual calls fun?

8.) Carve out time for yourself
Time is nothing but a limited commodity during the holidays. So managing how to use your 24 hours each day can be crucial to surviving, and ensuring time for yourself is imperative. First think about what ‘me time’ looks like for you. Is it a coffee or tea break alone, is it a walk in the park, is it playing with your kids (or animals). Whatever your happy place, define it and prioritize it somewhere in your day. Plan your day and be sure to add this in.

9.) Have fun and keep a sense of humor
Laughter really is the best medicine. One of my favorite things in life is to laugh so hard it hurts and you cry. I have this ridiculous ‘I can’t stop laughing’ laugh that sounds like a high-pitched squeal. It’s pretty embarrassing quite frankly and few people have seen it, but man, I love nothing more than when it happens. A sense of humor is a good defense when it comes to managing stress so keep a lighthearted attitude during the holidays and find humor in the things that go wrong. Forget the mistakes or arguments and remember the things that go just right.

I hope you all have an amazingly perfect and lovely holiday season, and if you have any other ideas to have a stress-free holiday, please share here. I would love to hear more ideas for staying sane.

Peace & Love,
Nikki