#57, Your Holiday Plan for Less Stress

For some people, the holidays are obviously stressful. But, for some who absolutely love this time of year, the stress can be a little sneaky. I like to break it down into two groups:

Introverts:
You love spending special time with your special people, but, with a lot more occasions on the calendar, you can get overwhelmed and easily over-extend your energy. 

Extroverts:
You are ecstatic to do so many fun things, but not only are you anxious to make sure it is as fun as it should be, you also feel the pressure to make each event highly memorable.

So, that is just a simple breakdown. You might feel yourself relating to both camps of introverted and extroverted, and my four stages of advice work for both. Today I am going to break down four steps that really help me understand how to show up more stress-free during the Holidays so I am less likely to dive into unhealthy coping mechanisms during this precious time of year. 

This might be a great episode for you to grab a pen and paper (if you aren’t driving or on a speed bike) and work through some of these ideas.

Step 1: Go back to last year and remember.
The past is always a great place to look at when we are thinking about the future. Ask yourself a few questions:

• What events did I absolutely love?
• Did I miss out on anything I wish I had taken part in?
• Was there anything I realized later hadn’t really been necessary?
• What activities seemed to be the most special to my family? (Crafts, cooking, games, trips, etc).
• If I could identify one thing that really frustrated me, it would be ________(fill in the blank)___

Step 2: Commit to taking things one day at a time.

• Try to organize some of your activities and holiday tasks so that you get them done a little sooner and they don’t pile up on you all at once. 
• Each day, commit to what you will do and don’t fret about tomorrow. You can only live one day at a time.
• Post a reminder on your phone, bathroom mirror, car, etc to remind you to take it one day at a time. 

Step 3: Stay Grounded
Our memories are lived and enjoyed in the moment so staying grounded in the present will automatically ease stress and make things even more delectable..

• Take a few deep breaths (in through your nose and out through your mouth) when you feel yourself becoming anxious, focusing on the sound and feeling of your breathing.
• Name things that you can identify with your senses--feel, taste, hear, smell, and see. 
• When you eat, don’t multitask. Whenever possible, eat sitting down, with no screens or distractions, and really notice how things taste and how it feels in your body. That simple practice can bring a lot of grounding time back into your day. 

Step 4: Never be afraid to lay things down.
It wasn’t until a couple years ago that I finally took things off my plate during the Holiday season that I realized I carried out a simple fear of what others would think. That is no reason to pile your plate higher.

• Prioritize. What is this season about? For me and my family, it is about celebrating Jesus’ birth and enjoying those we love. That helps me say no to things that won’t keep my heart where I want it.
• Always reflect upon what is driving you to say yes to every party and gift exchange. If your motives are driven by fear, pray about it. 

Okay, there you have it, four simple steps for less stress this Holiday season. It is the beginning of November, and you don’t want to wait until mid December to make this plan. Do it now, before the rush hits so that you can keep breathing with peace. 

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