The holidays are upon us! This can be an exciting, jolly, fun time of year, yet it can also be stressful, anxiety-inducing, and tiring. The holidays can be challenging because, on top of regular life things, there’s all the other shindigs going on which sometimes can be overwhelming. Then suddenly the office holiday pajama party seems like the last straw.
Today I'm going to talk about how to reduce holiday stress and anxiety by making your own holiday wellness routine. There are a few different ways to approach this so I'm going to talk about how to do this in general PLUS before, during, and after the various gatherings you may go to.
Here are some ways to create a holiday self-care routine to beat stress and anxiety IN GENERAL
Let yourself SOAK UP the holiday season
Whenever you want to immerse yourself in it-DO IT- whether it's October or the week before Christmas. Don't let other people's opinions dictate when it's okay for you to listen to Christmas music and watch Hallmark movies. Set up your environment with the scented candles, Christmas tree, decorations, string lights, holiday music. You do you boo!
Say no if you need to
The holidays are supposed to be fun and a time of connection, but if it’s getting to be too much you have to create a boundary for yourself. There's nothing wrong with not going to every single shindig. If you can't afford to spend $200 on Christmas presents- don't do it. If you don't want to have alcohol you don't need to explain your no- just say no.
Schedule self-care gifts to yourself ahead of time
This could be something like a massage, a facial, or sitting at home by yourself watching a Hallmark movie. Make sure to treat it like an important appointment. You don't have to cancel it because someone else wants that time slot. They also don't need to know what your appointment is for. Self-care is essential.
When you are with your people be with your people. BE PRESENT.
Spend quality time with the ones you love. Don't spend the whole time posting on social media or scrolling. You're making memories that will last a life time. Social media and whatever else going on outside of your family/friend time can wait.
Here’s how to create a holiday self-care routine to beat stress and anxiety BEFORE an event
Maintain your normal self-care practices
Make sure to get enough sleep, drink water, eat healthier food options most of the time, and get some type of movement in each day. Taking care of your every day needs will help you be able to enjoy your holiday fun even more while also giving you a strong base to operate from if things should become stressful or anxiety-inducing.
Plan ahead
Consider whether you need to take anything with you like a side dish or dessert. Make sure you know the time of the event, how to get there, the parking situation, etc- this all may seem like a no-brainer, buuut think about that time you showed up at your work party thinking it was an ugly Christmas sweater type shindig, but it was actually a fancy winter's finest type of deal. Awkward turtle 🐢
Have "comfort" items on hand
If being in large groups of people makes you anxious or maybe being around certain family members stresses you out having things to help you calm down and relax a bit can be helpful. These could be things like a fidget, peppermints, sour candies, essential oils, chamomile tea, or anything that helps you get out of your head and back into your body.
Here's how to create a holiday self-care routine to beat stress and anxiety DURING an event
Put some boundaries on beverages
I know the tendency can be to take off the edge with a shot of whiskey or insert drink of choice here, but too many shots and you could end up feeling pretty crappy, saying something crappy, or doing something crappy. Enjoy your beverages with moderation.
Moderate your caffeine intake
If being in big crowds makes you anxious, then drinking a bunch of coffee isn't going to make you feel anymore calm. Be careful about your intake and focus on getting good sleep and eating enough healthy foods to give you the energy you need instead.
Uncomfortable conversation boundaries and redirects
Family gatherings can get a little dicey if certain topics come up like politics, religion, or the whole "when are you going to have kids??" thing. Sometimes they can be a healthy discussion and sometimes they can blow up. If you don't want to talk about certain things don't hesitate to make it clear that you'd rather talk about something else and redirect the conversation. If they get pushy it's more than okay to end the conversation and leave the room. Here are some examples of how you could redirect the conversation:
"I honestly don't have anything to say about that, but I heard your son's football team went to state! That's awesome! Tell me more about that."
"That's an interesting point, but I can't speak to that. Oh hey, I heard you got promoted! Congrats! What's your new position like?"
"I appreciate your point of view on that. Oh hey Mom's waving me over."
People want to talk about themselves so if you can redirect to something interesting going on with them, then that can take the conversation out of murky waters. At the very least you can be "called away" from the conversation.
Be kind
Remember that you can't control other people and you don't know everything going on with them. What you can control is yourself and how you react to things. Another person's negative reaction has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them- their beliefs, perceptions, and the stories they tell themselves.
Here's how to create a holiday self-care routine to beat stress and anxiety AFTER an event
Spend some time alone
When you're around a bunch people you get a lot of energy sucked out of you AND a lot of energy stuck on you that isn't yours. Being alone can give you the chance to get rid of what isn't yours and recharge your own energy. I like to do this through journaling, music, and meditation. Maybe for you it's chillin by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate. Do what works for you!
Spend some time outside
Even if it's cold, spending some time outside has a way of giving you a healthy energy boost, a chance to take a deep breath, and let gooo. You can even try putting your hand on a tree or go barefoot (if it's not too cold) to get grounded. I'm telling you it works!
Spend some time on your favorite hobbies
Do something crafty, read a book, play a video game, watch your favorite show, do whatever it is that helps you to woosah. It is essential that you make time for doing things that you enjoy simply because you enjoy them ESPECIALLY when you're spending a lot of time around other people or in stressful or anxiety-inducing situations.
Put these holiday self-care for anxiety and stress tips into action and you will find that your shindigs will be much more enjoyable, fun, and filled with true connection with your loved ones.
Did any of these resonate with you in particular? If so, tell me in the comments below!
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