With the holidays approaching, you might already feel your stress levels rising. From planning family gatherings to shopping for gifts to decorating the house, you’re dreading the long to-do list that you have to tackle around this time every year.
When you were young, the holidays were fun. You got to take time off from school and enjoy the celebrations with your family and friends. But now, you’re responsible for making the holiday magic happen
All you can think about is how much work goes into pulling off these plans. You wish you could have a carefree holiday season again. Yet you worry that if you take a step back from any of these responsibilities, you’ll let other people down.
You don’t have to spend your entire holiday season feeling anxious and stressed. And finding more time to relax doesn’t mean that your holidays won’t be magical. Here’s how to mentally prepare for the holidays and prioritize your mental health this year.
Get Comfortable Saying “No”
As the holidays get closer, your schedule starts filling up fast. With each invitation to a different event, you realize that your windows of potential free time get smaller and smaller.
And in between these commitments, you somehow have to get your own home ready, shop for presents, bake cookies, and carry out your own family’s traditions.
If this scenario sounds familiar, it’s time to consider which invitations and commitments you could turn down. Think about what’s most important to you during the holidays.
It can be hard to get comfortable with telling people “No,” but you have every right to turn down invitations when your schedule is already too full for your liking.
Plan and Delegate in Advance
If you’re hosting a family event yourself, you might feel like all the planning responsibilities tend to fall on your shoulders. This year, you can start delegating tasks in advance. Talk to your family about pitching in on holiday planning.
It can be a good idea to get a big calendar and place it where everyone in your household can see it for planning purposes. Alternatively, you could download a scheduling app that your whole family can use. This will allow you to break down planning timelines for events and make sure everyone knows which tasks they will be responsible for.
Sometimes, it seems like all the holiday planning falls on one person in the household by default. But by having a conversation with your family about how everyone can contribute, you can take some of the pressure off.
Accept Imperfections
Sometimes, you might feel you need to decorate every room in your home, dress to the nines for every event, and choose the perfect gift for each and every person in your life. You worry you might forget to send a holiday card to someone, that a batch of cookies will come out burnt, or that you’ll show up late to an event.
But your holiday season does not have to be perfect in order to be memorable. Most of your loved ones will just appreciate the opportunity to see you.
Remember, one reason that we have such high expectations around the holidays is simply because of marketing. We’re told that we have to spend lots of money in order to make the most of the holiday season.
Once you let go of this messaging, it’s easier to relax and truly enjoy the holidays.
Are you feeling stressed about the holiday season? Talking to a therapist can help. Reach out to us today to discuss your options for scheduling your first session.