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While everything about the holidays sounds magical, the reality is it also brings with it a lot of stress.
The relentless to-do lists, the pressure to perfect every detail, and the constant hustle and bustle can often turn the season into a whirlwind of stress and overwhelm.
It doesn’t have to be that way!
There are several things you can do to stay organized, reduce holiday stress, and have an enjoyable fun-filled season.
Table of Contents
20 Ways To Reduce Holiday Stress And Enjoy The Season
1. Set Realistic Expectations
Don’t overburden yourself with unrealistic expectations. Remember, it’s okay to not be able to do it all.
I’ve been there. I’ve tried to do all the things and it never really went according to plan. Life happens.
Instead, if you prioritize things that truly matter to you and what you know you can do in the time you have. Let go of the rest, especially those that add unnecessary pressure.
By setting realistic expectations, you’ll be able to truly enjoy the holiday season without feeling burdened or stressed.
2. Plan Ahead
Planning ahead is key to reducing holiday stress and overwhelm. With everything planned in advance, you have ample time to tick things off your to-do list.
A little planning can go a long way. Create a to-do list and schedule tasks to avoid last-minute rush and stress.
Start your holiday shopping early to avoid last-minute rushes and potential shortages. You may even find some great deals and discounts by shopping in advance.
If you’re hosting a holiday meal, plan your menu and guest list well in advance. This will help you create a shopping list and purchase all necessary ingredients early on.
3. Set a Budget
One of the biggest stress factors during the holidays is related to money.
The holiday season can be a financial drain, leading to unnecessary stress. To avoid overspending and potential debt, set a realistic budget for gifts, food, travel, and other holiday expenses.
The idea behind creating a budget is to make sure you have enough in your savings account to pay off your credit card at the end of the month. Do NOT get into credit card debt. The high penalty and interest are not worth it.
Consider creating a list of people you want to gift and allocate a specific budget for each person.
If you want to give everyone on your list a gift but can’t afford it, consider homemade gifts. If you start early, you’ll have plenty of time to make lots of amazing gifts and you’ll save money too!
4. Ditch The Perfection – Aim For Fun Instead
Are you a perfectionist in everything you do? Do you want your cookies, decorations and everything else to be picture perfect?
Striving for 100% perfection is a surefire recipe for stress. It’s impossible to avoid being stressed when you want everything to be perfect.
To reduce holiday stress, ditch the perfection. Focus on fun instead.
Believe me, in a few months, nobody – not even you – will remember how things looked. What everyone will remember for years to come is how much fun all of you had together.
5. Delegate Tasks
Don’t try to shoulder the entire holiday burden. There are so many things to plan and do, it’s impossible for one person to do it all and not get exhausted and overwhelmed.
You know your limits. You know how much time you have on your hands and what you can and cannot do. It’s not just the time factor. There may be some things that may be beyond your capabilities.
Know that it’s okay to not be able to do some things and it’s okay to ask for help. Acknowledging your limits actually will prevent the inevitable burnout and help keep the happy holiday spirit going.
Decide what tasks you can do and what you should delegate. For example, you could design the invitations yourself, but get someone else to mail them out.
If you’re doing all the baking, delegate the shopping to another family member.
If you’re doing the cooking, somebody else can help with the prep work such as cutting the vegetables.
You’ll find that everyone will actually appreciate being part of the preparations.
6. Provide Specific Instructions To People You Are Delegating To
You’ve made the plans yourself and you know what you need to bring your vision to life. To ensure that it comes to fruition the way you envisioned, you must be very specific when delegating your tasks.
For example, let’s say you want baking ingredients from a particular brand that you always use. The person you’re delegating the shopping to may not know this.
When writing out your shopping list, make sure to specify the brand against each item. If something comes in various sizes, write down the size you want so you don’t end up with too much or too little.
Give them as much information as you can with detailed lists of the things they need to get done or buy.
Check in with them occasionally so if they run out of time or get confused, you can handle it before it turns into a stressful situation.
7. Schedule Your Days
Time really does fly. It may seem like you have lots of time but before you know it, there’s just a couple of days left and you still have tons to do. Scheduling your days will help you manage your time better and lay the foundation for a stress-free Holiday season.
To avoid last-minute stress, create a detailed to-do list well in advance and schedule tasks accordingly. Prioritize tasks, allocate specific time slots for each, and be realistic about your capacity.
Now that you know what you need done, schedule out each of the tasks using a planner or calendar. Schedule things like gift shopping during the early days so you can tick that off your list. Buy dry groceries in advance but leave the fresh produce for later.
Remember to balance your schedule with time for relaxation, family, and other commitments. By planning ahead and managing your time effectively, you can enjoy a more peaceful and stress-free holiday season.
8. Get More Shopping Done At Once Place
Go through your list of things to buy. Group those items that you know you can get at one store or in one area.
For example, do you know a box store that carries several of the items on your shopping list? Make a list of all those items and get it all done in a single shopping trip. Grouping your shopping in this way will cut down your shopping time considerably.
Better still, shop online! Amazon stocks almost anything you can think of and usually at lower prices too. Sign up for your Amazon Prime 30-day free trial to enjoy even bigger discounts and free shipping.
9. Use a Journal to Identify Your Stress Triggers
Everyone stresses over different things. For some it might be their financial situation, for others it may just be the struggle to juggle so many different things single-handedly.
A big part of reducing holiday stress is figuring out what is causing the stress in the first place. Writing down your thoughts and struggles in a journal can help you identify your stress triggers.
It’s only when you know what’s causing you to feel overwhelmed that you can take steps to resolve it.
Write in your journal every day. Look for commonalities on days when you feel unusually stressed.
Re-read your entries and identify situations that seem similar on stressful days. This might be when you had to go shopping, when you had to deal with a certain person, or on days when you simply had too much to do and it overwhelmed you.
Simply writing out what you did each day and things that bothered you can also help you release the negative emotions you’ve built up.
10. Take Time For Yourself
We could all use a little more self-care, especially during the holiday season. So often we’re so focused on our to-do lists we forget to take care of ourselves.
So go out and pamper yourself; you deserve it! Schedule in time for yourself, so you don’t forget. It is and should always be a priority.
Sometimes, all it takes to reduce holiday stress is to take a little bit of time each day where you can put the planning, shopping and other craziness aside and just focus on yourself.
This can be as simple as soaking in a warm aromatherapy bath at least once a week or sipping a glass of wine on your patio when the kids are asleep.
Book tickets for a show or movie with a family member or friend. Spend an evening with a girlfriend at happy hour and promise not to talk about Thanksgiving or Christmas even once.
These moments are precious, but they won’t come automatically. Sometimes you need to put them in your schedule.
A big part of your self-care routine is getting help with at least some of your tasks so do it!
11. Harness The Power Of Aromatherapy For Stress Relief
Aromatherapy can be a powerful tool for stress relief during the holiday season.
Diffusing relaxing essential oils like lavender, chamomile, or bergamot can create a calming and soothing atmosphere.
If you don’t have an aromatherapy diffuser, these ways to use essential oils without a diffuser can help.
Inhaling these calming scents can help reduce stress, anxiety, and promote relaxation.
12. Get Enough Sleep
I speak from experience when I say that getting enough sleep is crucial even when it feels like you just don’t have the time to sleep. In fact, it’s more important than ever when you have a lot going on.
Sleep and stress are very closely correlated. The less sleep you get, the more stressed you’re likely to be.
Sleep deficit is real! You never know when that sleep deprivation will catch up with you causing you to crash out at the most inopportune moment.
Maintain a regular sleep schedule. Diffuse essential oils for sleep around bedtime to help get your body into slumber mode. Listen to soft music if it helps you unwind.
13. Say No If You Need To
With so much on your own plate, there will be times when you can’t possibly take on any more. As difficult as it may be for you, there are times when you just have to say no.
Whether it is lack of time, lack of finances, or something else, be honest about your reasons for turning it down.
If you can, offer to help with smaller tasks that you know you can manage. If you just can’t fit anymore into your schedule, suggest other options. Brainstorm with the other person to find other workable alternatives. Taking a few minutes to do this is much better than saying yes and getting overly stressed that you did.
14. Maintain A Healthy Diet
Holiday stress may not be completely avoidable, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help keep it under control. Stress eating and binge-watching Netflix will only make you feel guilty and miserable. Worse still, you’ll end up having to get it all done last minute.
Maintain a healthy diet in the lead up to your big Christmas lunch. Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet of will help your body and brain stay healthier and happier.
As an added perk, when the time comes, you’ll be able to enjoy all those delicious Christmas goodies without feeling guilty.
15. Cook Smart For A Stress-Free Kitchen
To make cooking a joyful experience, plan your meals in advance. Create a detailed menu and shopping list to streamline the process. Cooking in batches can save you time and effort, especially for dishes that can be frozen or refrigerated.
Incorporate the comforting scents of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves into your holiday baking. These warm and inviting aromas can evoke feelings of nostalgia and reduce stress. By planning ahead and incorporating these tips, you can transform your kitchen into a stress-free haven.
16. Practice Relaxation Techniques
If you start to feel engulfed by the persistent stress, it may be time to practice relaxation techniques to keep those stress levels down. This can take different forms for different people.
Try art therapy if the creative process relaxes you. Creating art is a great (and free) form of therapy!
Watercolor, paint, or create just about anything for a few minutes every day to reduce Holiday stress.
Spend a few minutes any time during the day to just sit still and focus on your breathing. Put on meditation music or listen to meditation guidelines if it helps.
17. Practice Mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness is the perfect way to help lower your stress every single day.
Focus on your breathing and try to tune everything else out. If you have thoughts about things you have to do, simply allow them and return to focusing on your breath.
If you’re just beginning, try for just five minutes every day. Then, you can slowly work your way up.
18. Practice Gratitude
Expressing gratitude is a lovely way to enjoy a stress-free Holiday season. In fact, I’m sure this is why we celebrate Thanksgiving right before Christmas.
No matter how stressful things get, there’s always some things that work out well.
Keep a gratitude journal and write down three things you’re grateful during that day. On stressful days, open up your journal and read through your previous entries.
Or keep a gratitude jar. Write down what you’re grateful for on a piece of paper and drop it into the jar. On stressful days, open the jar, pick any piece of paper and read what you wrote.
Reading through your gratitude notes serves as a reminder of the many things that are working for you and takes the edge off the stress. Staying focused on what you have and what you’ve achieved is a proven stress-relief strategy.
Focus on what you’re thankful for, not what you lack. Practicing gratitude can shift your perspective and promote a positive outlook.
19. Decorate Mindfully
Keep your holiday decor simple and easy to maintain. When decorating, focus on creating a Christmas hygge ambiance instead. Choose cozy seasonal decor accessories look for Christmas decorations that bring joy without adding unnecessary stress.
A few well-placed ornaments or a simple garland can create a festive atmosphere without the need to decorate every available space. Of course, do that if it brings you joy but not if it’s going to stress you out.
Infuse your space with decorative scented pinecones with essential oils to evoke the warmth and coziness of the season.
Remember, less is often more. By avoiding excessive decorations, you can create a serene and inviting holiday environment.
20. Step Outdoors
Dealing with all things Holidays can be a sensory overload. It’s only natural to start feeling overwhelmed and stressed when surrounded by the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas 24/7.
Just stepping outside and spending some time outdoors can feel refreshing and energizing. Sure it’s cold but don’t let that be an excuse for not getting out. Wrap up warmly and go for a brisk walk or even a stroll outdoors.
The peaceful sights, sounds, and smells of the outdoors have a way of melting away your stress and replacing it with a sense of peace and calm.
If you can, schedule your outdoor time for when the sun is out. Getting some sun exposure can do much to lift your spirits, boost your serotonin levels, and help you feel more energized.
21. Exercise!
I almost didn’t add this only because I’m not a bit fan of exercising, but once I get started, I actually love it.
Even if it’s only a few minutes a day, try to get an exercise routine going. It can be a class, a video, or just a brisk walk- anything that gets your body moving and your blood flowing will be a huge help in relieving stress.
Exercising provides multiple benefits. It uplifts your mood by releasing endorphins. It makes you feel better about yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally.
There’s you have it – 20 easy-to-do tips to reduce holiday stress and enjoy a fabulous fun season. Remember, you don’t have to do it all. Pick and choose what works for you and focus on those strategies to reduce holiday stress and fill the season with much joy and cheer instead.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to serve as medical advice. Please consult your doctor before using any natural medication or if you experience any unusual symptoms. See Full Disclaimer here.
