The Best Ways for Moms to Beat Holiday Stress

The holidays.  The most wonderful time of year, right?  While they definitely can be, the holidays can also be stressful and overwhelming if we’re not careful.  Today, we’re talking about how you can beat the holiday stress.  You know, proactive things you can do to be more intentional, more present, and less stressed this holiday season.

As moms, we all want to create those magical holiday memories for our children.  How can we create the perfect Thanksgiving meal – that somehow everyone will enjoy?  Get all the Christmas shopping done and wrapped and hidden away before the big day?

We put big expectations on these family holidays.  We want to remember our children running in the yard after a big Thanksgiving meal.  Or the way their faces light up at the newly decorated tree, and how much fun they have snuggled together watching family Christmas movies.

And while there is NOTHING wrong with creating those memories and traditions, we live in a world where not only do we work hard to create those sweet memories within our the walls of our homes, but we also get to sneak peak into the very best moments of everyone else’s memories too, thanks to social media.

And we start to compare.  Did we do enough?  Should I have done that, too?  Are my kids missing out on the fun? And just like that, we add more and more stress to our holiday planning.

But can I tell you something?

Your kids don’t need all the fancy shenanigans you’re stressing over.  Sure, they’ll enjoy the fun you have, but what they really want is YOU, Mama.  And when the holiday stress starts piling up and you start to feel yourself losing it, they’ll notice it.

And while there will always be some level of holiday stress floating around (I mean, hello…it is nearly impossible to keep the chaos at bay for more than a short time with little ones running around), here are some ways that you can minimize holiday stress this year.

How to Minimize Holiday Stress

Plan Ahead

One of the best ways to reduce your holiday stress is to plan ahead.  Earlier, I shared our family’s Christmas bucket list.  That’s just one way that we try to plan ahead for the season so that it doesn’t sneak up on us.  We list out all the traditions and seasonal things we don’t want to forget to do and then we can better plan to do them during the season.

Other important ways to plan ahead before the holidays get here:

• Decide on your budget – how much will you spend on gifts? Treats?  Decorations?  Things add up quickly during this time of year, and setting a budget ahead of time (and sticking to it) will go far in minimizing your stress.
• Put events on the calendar – have a party or event?  School celebrations?  Travel?  Put it on the calendar now.
• Shop early – if you can.  Once you have your shopping budget, start to look for sales and deals to get the best prices for your gifts so you aren’t rushed at the last minute.  Bonus if you can stock up throughout the year and save them for Christmas!
• Declutter – it just helps.  Especially if you know you’ll be bringing in lots of gifts or new things from the holidays, go ahead and get your space organized ahead of time!  (Here are 5 tips to help declutter today!)

Say No.  And Don’t Feel Guilty About It.

There are about 1 million holiday activities and events that can sneak onto your calendar if you are not careful.  But you know your own limits and your family’s limits better than anyone else.

The truth is, there is simply no way to do it all this holiday season.  You can try, but you might go crazy.  And you probably won’t have much fun running around for a month and a half to get to it all.

Only you know how simple or elaborate of holiday traditions your family has capacity for.

Before you RSVP “yes” to an event ask yourself thoughtfully and honestly: 

Do I have the time to attend this event (or do this activity)?

Is this in our budget?

Will this bring my family joy?  Are we excited for this event?

Would we rather just stay at home?

Learning to say no and not feeling guilty about it is probably one of the most important tips to beating holiday stress.

Not only does it create margin in an otherwise really busy time, but it also allows you to say YES! to the people and things that are most important.

Don’t Forget to Take Care of Yourself.

I could write a whole separate post on self-care during the holidays (or any other busy season), but this isn’t that.

This is about remembering to literally take care of yourself during the holidays.  It’s easy to push through and stretch ourselves so thin during the hustle and bustle of this season.

Keeping up with a healthy routine will not only give you more energy to get things done and actually enjoy the holidays, but it can go a long ways in actually keeping you healthy, too.  Nobody wants to be sick on Christmas, am I right?

Some simple ways to take care of yourself this holiday season:

• Stay well-hydrated – grab a water bottle and keep it with you throughout the day.  I drink WAY more water now that I always have my water bottle with me.
• Get moving – go for a walk, get out to the gym, take the stairs, etc.  Honestly, some fresh air almost always helps minimize stress for me.  I’ll often feel like a whole new person with a much better perspective after coming back from even a short walk outside.
• Go to sleep – easier said than done, I know.  But, taking time to recognize when your body needs to just stop and rest is important.  To the extent that you can, try to maintain regular sleeping habits during the holidays.

Ask for Help.  And Be Willing to Receive It.

Why are we so often slow to ask for help.  Another great way to reduce holiday stress is to recognize that you can’t do it all.  Look for places that you can delegate chores or responsibilities this time of year.  Especially if you have family or friends visiting or coming into town.

Are there things on your list that don’t necessarily require YOU to do them?  Can someone else:

• Bring sides for a meal?  Cook a meal one night?
• Help clean up or organize part of your home?
• Wrap gifts?  Can you wrap some gifts together with your spouse or friends?
• Pick up something from the grocery store?
• Put stamps on Christmas cards?

While it might not come easily to ask for help, most of the time people are willing to pitch in, and it’s more fun to have everyone involved anyway.  So don’t be afraid to ask for some help getting things off your list!

Be Flexible.

Finally, be flexible.  We all know that no matter how well we plan ahead, get enough sleep, or keep our calendars clear, there will always be something that doesn’t go as planned.  And that’s okay.

Sometimes the thing you had on your bucket list turns out to be a flop or no one enjoys it like you thought they would.  It’s fine.  Being flexible and willing to admit when something isn’t working or needs a change is important.

My guess is the whole reason you made those plans in the first place was to enjoy them with the ones you love.  And so, even if the plan changes, the people are still the point.  Celebrate with them.  Love them.  And soak up some quality time with them.

Because just as quickly as this season got here, it will be time for a new year and a fresh start anyway.

Do you have any more tips to relieve the holiday stress?  How are you planning to stress less this season?