The Holidays are just around the corner and I can already feel myself starting to get stressed! I had to catch myself several times last week from freaking out over the amount of things I need to get done prior to Christmas. I’m hosting 15 family members for Christmas at my house plus 30 friends for a New Years Eve party; I may or may not have panicked 10x last week 😉 But, aren’t the Holidays supposed to be fun and magical? Not if we let panic get to us! It’s so easy to get caught up in the craziness of holiday shopping and running around; but we should try to make a conscious effort to take a step back and realize that the Holidays go beyond what most make it out to be. As cliche as this sounds: It is not all about the presents. So if you feel your stress levels increasing as the Holidays are approaching, these 5 tips will help you get right back on track:
Re-focus your intentions. Ask yourself the questions such as: Why are you buying gifts for a special someone? How can you create a moment with family/friends that can last forever? How can you help someone who may be less fortunate have a better Holiday? Remember it should not feel like a chore where you need to ‘check things off your list’ and just ‘get things done.’ Try to focus on the reason behind every act that you’re doing, and if you don’t have a good enough reason; simple don’t do it out of guilt or to please others! I used to get caught up in this a lot, where I’d be running around trying to create perfection to make others happy
Allocate time to productivity. Time is getting tight! Allocate a day to just be productive and check things of your list. Don’t waste your time with distractions. Wake up early, write a to do, and map out the day hourly. The quicker you get it done the more you get to enjoy the festivities.
Opt out, it’s okay to say no. This time of year it’s so easy to get overbooked and guilted into attending parties/events. This weekend for example, I had 4 parties in one day; 2 which I had to respectfully decline. I always feel so guilty saying no to someone, but sometimes it’s the best thing we can do for our own sanity! The Holidays shouldn’t feel like a chore/commitment.
Remember to have fun. Check in with yourself daily. Do at least 1 thing a day that’ll put you in a festive mood. Whether it’s a movie, or enjoying a seasonal treat, or just music; make sure you take full advantage of the Holiday season and make the most of it! If you’re hosting parties this Holiday like I am; be satisfied with good enough! I’m totally guilty of this one.
So next time you’re feeling worked up or overwhelmed, try to zoom out of the situation and refocus your intentions. Don’t get caught up in the craziness of it, remember to make daily conscious efforts to have fun and enjoy it! If you live in the NYC area, take an evening off and follow my guide to navigating NYC during the Holidays.
You may also enjoy reading: Holiday Gift Guide: Fun Present For Everyone on your List ($200 and under)
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One more thing! Remember… go out there and be Fearless! No matter what you set your mind to, YOU CAN DO IT! Did you download my free e-book yet? I know that you’ll love it!
Much love,
This is such a great post, I love how you put this together, I need to make sure to have fun too, it’s stressful but I think it’s important to remember it’s a wonderful time of year!
The holidays can be super stressful. You really do have to take a step back and say no sometimes. I need to get better at this myself!