In today’s hectic world, it’s easy to feel like things are out of control. From family obligations to the pressures of job and school, everything seems to be conspiring against us at this time of year.
While the hustle and bustle can be enough to make anyone tense, the stress of Christmas can take things to a new level. Christmas stress is real!! That’s because it’s not just our friends and families who are looking to add some cheer at this time of year; every commercial on television is broadcasting advertisements that seem designed specifically to prey on our insecurities.
Why is Christmas So Stressful?
There are a few reasons that Christmas is so stressful. The main ones are
- You have lost a loved one that you are missing during a time when spending time is an important part of the holiday
- There is a ton of pressure to have a magical holiday that often does not live up to those expectations
- The budgeting/cost component – not having enough money to buy what you want to give, eat or do
- Commercialism can be stressful – we are absolutely bombarded with it year-round, however, it is MUCH worse this time of year
- Having a calendar that is jam-packed with no downtime – too many must-do events and tasks!
While there are a ton of reasons that Christmas is the most stressful time of year. These are the most common issues. With the largest being lack of money to fund the holiday they want.
Helping Have a Less Christmas Stress
However, a little mindfulness coupled with some effective meditation techniques can help you relax and reduce your stress levels throughout the year as well as at this particular time of year. Here are some great tips to keep calm during the holiday! And at the bottom of the page, you will find an additional solution to help manage Christmas this year!
Here come the tips!!
Find Your Own Rhythm
In order to deal with the stresses of Christmas, it’s important to find your own natural rhythm. Think about how you feel on a daily basis, whether that’s physically or emotionally. Meditation is a great way to relax your mind. It can help you clear your thoughts and get rid of any stress.
The goal isn’t to distract yourself from the stressors in life but rather to become more aware of what triggers them.
This awareness will allow you to control when you react to them rather than letting their effects overwhelm you. Take time out for meditation at different times throughout the day as well as before bed. If you find that it’s easier for you to meditate early in the morning then take advantage of this time and give yourself time away from all the hustle and bustle. Meditation is also helpful if you have trouble sleeping at night; try meditating before bedtime so that those thoughts don’t keep buzzing around your head until the early hours of the morning.
Breathe Deeply
One of the best meditation techniques is breathing deeply. Take a moment to breathe in deeply and exhale slowly. Let your stomach expand and contract with each breath.
This will help you unwind and feel more grounded. Another great technique for reducing stress is to count your breaths. Take a deep breath in through your nose and then exhale out through your mouth. With every breath, say the words “one”, “two”, or “three” as you exhale through your mouth.
Use this technique when you wake up in the morning or when you are feeling overwhelmed at work or school. Once you have reached ten, find a way to relax for a few minutes before continuing on with whatever it is that is causing the Christmas stress for you.
Practice Mindfulness
With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be easy to forget that you are the only one who is responsible for your happiness and success. This year, take a moment to reflect on how you are feeling.
Are you experiencing any anxiety? Are you struggling with what you want for Christmas? These are important questions to ask yourself as they will help hone in on the stress points in your life.
Rather than trying to push through these feelings, try taking a step back and using mindfulness techniques as an effective method for coping with your feelings. Mindfulness techniques can help reduce stress by making us more aware of our thoughts and emotions without getting caught up in them.
We can use these techniques to give us the perspective we need so that we don’t feel overwhelmed by the busy holiday season and all its demands.
Be Present
One of the best ways to deal with stress is mindfulness. By being present in your life, you are able to take a step back and regain control over what’s happening. Mindfulness meditation can help us feel more grounded in our lives by unifying our physical and emotional well-being. Our minds become more focused on the present moment and we are less likely to allow outside influences to affect us.
The only way to be mindful is by taking time out for yourself. This allows you to feel calmer, less stressed, and completely in control of your emotions.
Some effective techniques for mindfulness meditation include:
- Sitting or lying down with closed eyes
- Listening to or repeating calming sounds
- Aromatherapy using essential oils
- Massage therapy
Take a Walk or Do Something Physical
Firstly, it’s important to reduce your stress levels by taking a walk or doing something physical. When you run or exercise, you also release endorphins which help to reduce the stress hormone cortisol in the brain. You don’t have to go all out, just make sure that you spend some time getting some physical activity in during the day. Secondly, try and take some time out of your day for mindfulness meditation. When your mind is resting, it’ll not only be easier to relax but you’ll also be able to more easily identify when your thoughts are turning into anxiety.
Eat Well and Stay Hydrated
Stress can be debilitating and we need to take care of ourselves in order to limit its effects. One of the easiest ways to do that is to eat well and stay hydrated. The combination of healthy and plentiful food and plenty of water will help your body function at its peak, which will make it easier for you to relax.
But what about when you get hungry and thirsty and just want to binge junk food? The best way to deal with those instances is by going for a walk or doing some yoga in the morning. This will give you a chance to clear your head from the day’s stresses and physically work out any tension that might have built up overnight. It’ll also ensure that you’re getting enough sleep and rest for yourself, which is an important part of how we fight stress effectively.
Conclusion – Managing Christmas Stress
Beginning with the basics, this article offers six easy and practical ways to help you ease into the Christmas season. Maintaining a regular meditation practice is one of the key ways to stay calm and centered in the midst of all the busyness. I hope these few simple techniques help you navigate the holidays in a stress-free way.
Need Help Managing your Christmas Holiday?
Christmas stress is no fun!!! In December there is so much to do! Decorating, buying gifts, wrapping them, stockings, baking, cleaning, managing events, Christmas dinner, grocery shopping….. it can be so overwhelming!!
Enter the ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS PLANNER!!
With over 50 pages designed to make every stage of the holiday season stress-free, this planner is the tool you need to make this year’s holidays the best yet!
This planner is perfect for ANYONE who is looking to keep all their tasks and plans for the holiday season in order. Stay on top of Christmas this year! Jam-packed with solutions to help you manage your dinners, gift giving, decorations, memory making, movie watching, music listening, grocery shopping, budgeting…. And more!
WHAT IS INSIDE??
You get 54-Pages designed to help you manage the holiday season with less stress!
- 2022 / 2022 Annual At A Glance Calendars
- November & December Monthly Calendar Planner Pages
- Weekly and Daily Planner Pages
- Today’s Schedule – hourly breakdown
- To-DoDo List and Notes Pages
- Holiday Budget Overview Worksheet
- Christmas Savings Tracker
- Christmas Gift Ideas Brainstorm Sheet
- Online Shopping Tracker
- Stocking Stuffer Brainstorm Sheet
- Wish List
- Donations List Tracker
- Address Book Sheet
- Christmas Card List Sheet
- Food Ideas Brainstorm Sheets – covers Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
- Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Menu Planners
- Favorite Recipe Sheet
- Grocery List Pages
- Dinner Guest List Tracker
- Potluck List Keeper
- Baking Lists Sheets
- Christmas Baking Timeline Keeper
- Christmas Decorating Ideas Brainstorm Pages
- Christmas Decoration Planner
- Christmas Bucket List Page
- Holiday Song Playlist / Christmas Movies To Watch
- Christmas Traditions Planner
- 30 Days Of Gratitude Worksheets
- Celebrate Christmas Rehash – Memory Maker
- 5 Christmas Carols