The lead-up to Christmas and the holiday season can be a very busy time for many. Social get-togethers are offered for every club, hobby, workplace, and circle of friends we are involved in. At the same time, most people still work full-time hours during this pre-Christmas period, shop for gifts for loved ones, and make holiday plans. If you want to feel great this silly season you might need a few Christmas stress relief tips up your sleeve!
Many people perceive the added jobs they need to do at this time of year as quite stressful and overwhelming. This can have repercussions for the body’s health. The implications of high levels of stress can be wide-reaching, from headaches to skin conditions, increased blood pressure, problems sleeping, fatigue, and decreased feelings of mental wellbeing, to name a few.
Read on for my practical tips for less holiday stress so you can feel rejuvenated instead of drained during and after the upcoming festive period.
Christmas stress relief tips
Before we start, let me check that you know about the different types of stress. Eustress is a type of stress that feels good and gets us motivated. However, the bad type of stress is known as ‘distress.’ This is the one that causes you to feel anxious and does not feel positive.
If you know you have a habit of suffering from ‘distress,’ these Christmas stress relief tips should help you to feel calmer and more balanced. However, if you are experiencing severe mental health issues, please consult with your primary health professional. These tips may not be helpful if you are going through a difficult time.
Here are my top tips for keeping Christmas holiday stress in check during this busy time.
Plan ahead to reduce Christmas anxiety
Christmas and holiday planning can go a long way towards helping to reduce feelings of stress. It means you’re less likely to forget things, leave things until the last minute, or feel overwhelmed about a vast to-do list. Put pen to paper and write down the things you need to remember and when you plan to do them. Some things that you might need to prepare for include:
- Gather recipes and a grocery shopping list. Don’t leave shopping until the last minute when stores are busy. Ensure you stock up enough to get you through any holiday days when shops are closed.
- Gifts for loved ones. Leaving things until the last minute can cause a lot of Christmas shopping stress, so allocate sufficient time to get it done.
- Social engagements. See the “say no” section below and decide which invitations you will say yes to and which you will decline. Social get-togethers may not feel as fun if you cram too many of them into your schedule without sufficient time for rest.
Minimize alcohol consumption
The holiday period is a social time of the year when alcohol consumption increases for many. Be aware that alcohol creates MORE stress inside the body by making internal organs and systems work harder and can result in restless sleep. If you choose to drink alcohol, be very mindful of how much and how often. Also, ensure you drink sufficient extra water to keep your body hydrated.
The Ministry of Health in New Zealand recommends NO MORE THAN two standard drinks a day for women and no more than three for men PLUS at least two alcohol-free days every week. Bear in mind these are upper limits and not guidelines for optimal health.
So sure, enjoy a glass of wine as part of your holiday celebrations. A little mindfulness will also go a long way to ensuring the adverse effects do not outweigh the benefits. If you’ve had a bit of a binge on alcohol or food, read these tips to help you get back on track.
Breathe into your belly to reduce stress
Next on my list of Christmas stress relief tips is effective breathing. Stressed people generally breathe in and out of the top part of the chest, which can increase the body’s stress response.
‘Belly breathing‘ is an effective way to decrease the stress hormones circulating in the body. It also stimulates the lymphatic system, which assists in removing toxins and fluid from the body. Additionally, belly breathing is an excellent way to grab micro-moments of quiet time for yourself.
To practice belly breathing, sit comfortably, place one hand on your belly and the other on your chest, and close your eyes. As you take a long, slow breath in, you should first feel the hand on your belly rise as your tummy fills with air.
Towards the end of the in-breath, you will feel the hand on your chest rise as air fills this space. Then, slowly release your breath and feel both hands lower back in.
Start with 5-10 belly breaths every day, and gradually, it should become your regular breathing style. Any time you feel your stress levels rising, take a few deep belly breaths. The tension in your body and your stress hormone levels should start to lower immediately.
Say ‘no’ to reduce stress at Christmas time
Consider the things that are important to maintaining optimal health and good energy levels. These include exercise, eating whole foods, getting good quality sleep, ‘me’ time, and spending time with loved ones. Is the number of activities and tasks on your ‘to-do’ list negatively impacting these areas? If so, decide what you can say ‘no’ to and offer plenty of time to yourself to care for your well-being instead.
Avoid unrealistic expectations
Maintaining realistic expectations during the festive season is crucial for reducing holiday stress and ensuring a joyful experience. It’s easy to want everything to be perfect — the perfect decorations, the perfect gifts, and the perfect gatherings. However, striving for perfection can lead to feelings of inadequacy and overwhelm.
Set realistic goals to reduce holiday stress
Start by evaluating your plans and setting realistic goals for what you can accomplish. Instead of aiming for an immaculate house, focus on creating a warm, inviting atmosphere reflecting the season’s joy. Accept that not everything will go according to plan, and that’s perfectly okay. Embrace the idea that the imperfections may even add to the charm of the holidays.
Break down holiday tasks
Break down larger tasks into smaller, more attainable steps to make your holiday preparations more manageable. This can help prevent the overwhelming feeling of a massive to-do list.
For example, tackle one room at a time instead of decorating the entire house in one day. Create a schedule that allows you to pace yourself and gives you time for breaks between tasks.
For most people, Christmas doesn’t have to be stressful time, so manage the aspects you can control, and you’ll enjoy yourself a lot more.
Focus on what truly matters
Instead of getting caught up in commercialism and the pressure to host extravagant gatherings, focus on what truly matters — quality time with loved ones.
Switch off from the media to decrease Xmas stress
Whether it’s Christmas or any other time of the year, consciously switching off from the media and social media can be a valuable strategy for reducing stress levels.
When you switch off your devices for set periods over Christmas, you’ll be free to spend quality time with family and friends. You may even want to use your extra time for relaxing and creative festive season activities. Ideas include:
- Taking time to make Christmas cards or write meaningful messages in them during the days leading up to Christmas
- Spend time making decorations for the Christmas tree
- Baking cookies on Christmas Eve
- Playing cards or board games on Christmas day and sitting around the family dinner table for extended periods
These activities can help strengthen connections with loved ones and create fond memories that will last for years to come.
Exercise as a method for coping with Christmas stress (psst, don’t overdo it!)
Regular physical activity is essential for physical health, mental well-being, and stress reduction. However, it’s crucial to maintain the right balance for your body when you are feeling stressed. Understanding the relationship between cortisol (a stress hormone) and exercise can help you make the best decision about the type, frequency, duration, and intensity of exercise that will serve you well.
If you’re experiencing festive season stress, you might feel like you are too busy to exercise. The great news is that there are plenty of exercise options when you have limited time.
Aim to incorporate relaxing and fun forms of fitness into your festive season to help avoid layering more stress onto your body. Examples include:
- Breath-focused physical activity, such as Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Pilates, or yoga.
- Gentle to moderate aerobic activity such as walking, cycling, swimming, or jogging. It’s a bonus if you can get into nature to reap the additional benefits of doing so.
- Any exercise that you think is fun! Some examples could include dancing and group fitness sessions.
Find out more about tips to stay on track with your fitness over the festive season and about the scientifically proven ways that exercise helps with anxiety.
More stress relief tips and festive season tips
There is a limit to how much impact you can have on family drama during this time of year. Whether it’s with immediate or extended family, looking after yourself is one of the best ways to manage the stress you might feel at family gatherings.
Specific tools and techniques can help you feel more centered and rebalance faster after stressful situations. If you’re ready for some more simple, easy, and specific stress reduction strategies, try out these easy relaxation techniques for reducing stress.
How many hours of sleep are you getting? Prioritize plenty of sleep over the festive season to help you get set for a great New Year ahead. Check out this epic post all about how to get better sleep.
Karen Degen is an EFT practitioner who helps people remove emotional blocks. She does this to help people be successful. EFT techniques can help with health-related endeavors and goals in other areas of life. Here she shares a short article about what to do when you are really stressed.
For other Christmas-related tips, check out these awesome gift ideas for fitness lovers. You may find the perfect gift for friends and family members who value their physical health.
Maybe you’re ready to look at your fitness goals for the new year? If so, check out this post about how to set long-term fitness goals using the SMART principle. You will also love these tips about healthy habits for the New Year ahead.
What are your top Christmas stress relief tips? How do you manage the stress of Christmas and get some quiet time to yourself? I’d love to hear your ideas, so please comment in the box below. Here’s to a wonderful time with friends and family and a perfect holiday season ahead xx
Leave a Reply