Stay Stress-Free this Holiday Season!

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From the bank-breaking gifts to the derailing parties, the Holiday season can easily go from being the most wonderful time of the year to being the most stressful. This year, stay calm and balanced by observing some of the following strategies and principles:

Stay Close to Home. Does the prospect of crazy, delay-filled holiday travel get you down? Do yourself a favor this year and stay home. Enjoy all of the local activities your area has to offer, or simply stay home, watch Holiday movies, listen to Christmas music and eat popcorn. What could be more festive?
Know Your Limits. Reducing holiday stress requires thoughtfulness and pre-planning. Before the main Holiday events even begin, set some limits for yourself, write them down, and pledge to keep them. As the Holiday season unfolds, take out your list, and remind yourself of your limits and why you made them. Whether it’s limiting yourself to attending only one New Year’s Eve Party or eating only one piece of cake, knowing your limits and sticking to them is always a healthy practice.
Prioritize. When there’s a lot to do it always helps to go through what needs to get done, think about each task, and organize your list by level of importance. As you go down the list, ask yourself: what will happen if it doesn’t get done? You might even find yourself removing some things from the list completely in this process!
Be a Holiday Minimalist. It’s true that most families have yearly Holiday traditions and rituals, but don’t be afraid to change it up! Maybe you can forgo the epic light display for a couple of Christmas wreaths this year. These days, e-cards are perfectly acceptable ways of spreading Holiday cheer. Making small changes and eliminations can reduce stress in a big way around the Holidays.
Don’t Give Up on Your Current Routine. Hold on to the good habits in your life that work. Don’t stop exercising every day or spending time doing your favorite hobbies. Don’t sacrifice your normal sleep schedule for parties or Holiday chores. Having a daily schedule and routine helps to calm and center us, and we need to feel this way around the Holidays more than ever.
Practice Gratitude. Isn't the point of the Holiday season to be thankful for what and who is important to us? Make a list of everything you’re grateful for. Express to others that you care about and value them. Research has shown that practicing gratitude can relieve stress and anxiety, and what better time to do it than around the Holidays?
Don’t Beat Yourself Up. Even if you quit exercising, gain a few pounds, and/or spread yourself too thin, don’t punish yourself for it, as beating yourself up will only stress you out more. After all, the Holidays only come one time per year. Start the New Year off on the right foot by forgiving yourself and moving on.

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