‘Tis the season to stress yourself out over shopping, cooking, and traveling! Can you feel the holiday frenzy in the air? Even if you tend to be a minimalist around the holidays it’s hard not to be affected by the increase in traffic, crowded grocery stores, and long checkout lines. With all the chaos that occurs this time of year it’s easy to forget that this season is supposed to be joyful. In hopes to bring back some holiday cheer, here are a few quick tips to a stress-free holiday season.
1. Make Your List, Check It Twice
Most of us today have a pretty busy to-do list already. Yet, as soon as mid November hits, that to-do list suddenly triples, throwing our mind and body into a panic. Our brain has an interesting way of handling overwhelm. When it has too much to process it can either go into hyper mode causing anxiety and insomnia, or shut itself down causing lethargy and depression. The best way to avoid this mental seesaw this holiday season is to get yourself extra organized. This is easy to do, all you need is a paper and pen. Yes that’s right, making a list (or several lists) is an excellent way to alleviate brain overwhelm.
The brain is able to better process and assimilate information when it is organized. The simple act of writing down your gift shopping list, grocery store items, and travel plans frees up a lot of space in your head. Literally! When your many to-dos are not written down, either on paper or digital, your brain feels the need to constantly remind you. We’ve all had nights where we can’t sleep because we are thinking of all the tasks we have to do the next day. That’s an example of how our brain continues to fire synapses to remind us to take action. Interestingly enough, scientists have found that when you write down these reminders, your brain will leave you alone. This “brain dump” reduces overwhelm and lowers cortisol, thereby alleviating physical and mental stress. A list also helps your brain think more clearly and calmly, making it easier to process and prioritize all you have to do this holiday season.
2. All is Calm, All Is Bright
While you are organizing your holiday to-do lists, don’t forget to schedule in some quiet time for yourself either every morning or evening. Mindful activities such as meditating, breathwork, or yoga should be priority this time of year. It may seem counterproductive to take time to slow down when you have more to do than usual. But, a short mindfulness practice will not only help calm your body and mind, but will increase your energy, improve immune function, and brighten your mood.
Try setting aside just 20 minutes at either the beginning or the end of your day. Within that time frame you can do a short meditation and journal session, a little yoga flow, or just breathe long and slow. Your mind will resist this at first, especially if you are tired. But within 5 minutes your cortisol levels will begin to fall, your nervous system will reset, and your brain will quiet down. If you are new to meditation you can try different meditation apps or guided downloads to get started. There are endless options, and remember it can be as simple as closing your eyes and counting your breath. Try it once and see how different you feel, and how much better your day goes.
3. Bringing Good Cheer
Joy is the ultimate stress reducer. With all the hustle and bustle around the holidays it can be easy to neglect those seasonal traditions that we love so much. Whether that’s dancing to holiday music, watching Hallmark movies, or baking cookies. We all have holiday activities that put a smile on our face, and this is the time of year to indulge in them. So maybe instead of writing out 50 holiday cards to relatives that you barely talk to, you spend time making a gingerbread house with your kids. (Unless of course writing holiday cards brings you joy, then do that!) A simple mug of hot cocoa at night can be just the trick to get you into the holiday spirit after a long day. All you need are a few moments of good cheer and laughter to reduce stress, boost your immune system, and elevate your mood. Remember, the holidays are only here for a short time, so make sure you make them joyful.
From Now On Your Troubles Will Be Out of Sight
The best part about adopting these 3 habits during the holidays is that you can continue to use them all year long. Whenever life feels overwhelming, return to these routines to find your center again. Over time you will find that these habits become second nature, and you’ll be able to handle life’s curve balls with more calm and grace.
Wishing you a joyful and stress-free holiday season!