4 Tips For Holiday Wellness

While some people believe the holiday season is “the most wonderful time of the year,” others feel bogged down by the responsibility and the stress that often accompanies the holiday season. Sometimes it feels like there is only just enough time to get everything done, from the cooking to the decorating and wrapping, and everything in between. Then come the parties. Even people who aren’t social butterflies are turned into rudimentary ones when seeing family and friends.

This is the season of giving, and with all of the attention on others, it can be occasionally difficult to think about yourself. Remember that you are a human being too, and the people for whom you are preparing this celebration are going to want you to feel happy while you’re with them too.

With that in mind, here are a few helpful tips you can use to get you back on your feet again when everything feels hectic.

1. Set aside some time for you

For those of you who frequent the blog, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. One of the things I frequently suggest when it comes to looking after your “self-health” is taking time for yourself. Do whatever you want to, whether it’s yoga, going for a run, watching TV, or taking an extra nap, your mental health and stability is one of the most challenging but most important things during the holidays. By having some you time, you’re putting yourself first, and you will find you are much cheerier in a holiday that is supposed to be merry and bright.

2. Make time for your loved ones

Now that you have gotten you time out of the way, it’s time to include the other people in your life. Keep in mind that this does not mean that you have to spend hours with all of your friends, but even something as simple as phoning them for a small chat or sending them a card will help as a nice reminder that you are thinking of them. The same goes for the family that you won’t be seeing over the holidays. You might find that the more you do this, the more frequently people will return the favour year after year!

3. Don’t fall behind in your sleep

The most productive person in the world will become unproductive given enough sleep deprivation. Science actually hasn’t yet figured out why we need sleep, but what we do know is that if we don’t get enough of it, you will start to slow down and your brain will stop functioning correctly. Most people require between 7 and 9 hours of sleep to properly function, and without it, you will find that you spend more time trying to solve the same problems. Your attention span and temper might be shorter, and your concentration will drop like a rock. If you thought holiday burnout would be a problem while you’re awake, imagine how hard it will hit when you’re tired.

4. Plan ahead

There are some people who have different ideas of what organization means. Having a look at how people keep their bedrooms is often a good way of knowing how people end up organizing their homes. Some have a stricter system where their bookshelves are alphabetized and their drawers are sorted by clothing type, while others have things all over the place but know exactly where everything is. No matter the type of organization you may employ, it helps to keep a system of some kind to ensure you aren’t missing anything. You may not realize that you’re forgetting something while it’s happening, but when you do realize and you have to play catch-up, it causes a chain reaction through your tasks that causes the whole thing to fall apart. At least having a plan will help to ensure those moments are kept to a minimum, and the holidays will run as smoothly as possible.

By no means is this an exhaustive list! You should be taking the time to figure out what your best mechanisms are for coping with anxiety and stress in the holidays. Understanding where your stressors lie is the first step to dealing with them, and it’s important to developing your action plan. Who knows, maybe this year, because you tackled your stressors head-on, you might just have the smoothest holiday season you’ve ever had.