As fun as the holiday season can be, not every moment is holly jolly. Dealing with family stress, coming up with unique gifts to give, and end-of-year professional deadlines can make “the most wonderful time of the year” stressful for anyone. 

This year, take time to arm yourself with some easy tips to help you stay sane throughout the holiday season. Start prepping early with these helpful tips. 

1. Manage your expectations

Although this may sound Grinch-like, try to reign in your expectations for the holidays before you get too excited. You do not need to put high pressure on yourself to make this the best holiday ever. The important part is seeing loved ones and spreading joy. 

The next time you find yourself hyping up how this will be the best holiday season of your life, take a deep breath and rein it in. Simply spending time with your family and making quality memories is enough.

2. Remember to make time for yourself

With plenty of travel being done and holiday parties to attend, you may forget to take care of yourself. Practicing self-care is critical in such a high-stress time of the year. Although now is the time to do thoughtful things for others, you cannot forget about yourself! 

Consider creating a self-care basket before the crazy holiday season starts. Small things that travel well, such as a journal, bath melts, or a nice hand lotion, are easy to travel with, so you can take your spa routine on the road if you plan on traveling. As well as physical self-care, remember to keep your body moving to keep the endorphins flowing.  During the holidays it’s tempting to let go of your regular exercise routines but it’s even more important to stay active. If you’re traveling to stay with family, pack your running shoes and take short walks in the neighborhood you’re staying. For introverts, there’s the extra bonus of getting some time away from what can be non-stop socializing.

3. Focus on kindness

Rather than losing your cool in holiday traffic or getting frustrated while stuck in line at the grocery store, reframe your mindset to be a positive one. The end of the year is a great time to re-root yourself in what truly matters: kindness and compassion. 

Instead of honking at the car that cut you off, take a few deep breaths and think about how the line of traffic fits into the grand scheme of things. Things are busy because we’re all doing the same thing, working on making the holiday special for our loved ones. In the long line at the grocery store, strike up a friendly conversation with the person in front of you. Spreading holiday joy is what this season is all about. 

4. Create a schedule 

When celebrating with so many people, the end of the year can come and go before you even realize it. Once you have an idea of what obligations you have throughout the holiday season, set aside some time to organize your schedule. 

Find a calendar or use your phone to write out what parties you have on what dates, when you have family coming into town, and even when you need to go grocery shopping. This way, you can free up space in your brain to focus more on your loved ones and less on your to-do list. 

Creating a schedule also helps us be more intentional about how we want to spend the holidays. Do you really want to attend those five holiday parties? Or, would you rather schedule a quiet dinner with friends you haven’t caught up with in a while? Or, organize a cookie decorating party with the kids in your family? Instead of the holiday season passing in a blur of obligatory events, spend time on the activities and the people you truly value.

5. Enjoy the present moment

Take full advantage of the joy of the holiday season by committing yourself to the present moment. The holidays only happen once a year and you are living in it! As stressful as this time can be, think of all the happy memories you are creating. You won’t get to experience this holiday joy for another full year. Enjoy it while it lasts. 

About: Chanderbhan Psychological Services is a therapy practice located in Laredo, Texas. We help individuals and couples who are struggling in different areas of their lives gain the clarity they need to grow and change. We also offer telehealth to individuals located in the wider State of Texas. To read blogs on mental health and relationships, visit our website.