When I say “holiday season,” what pops into your brain? When you hear the word “Christmas,” what do you think of? Does your mind wander to egg nog, the smell of cookies baking in your mom’s kitchen, the joy of people coming together and the magic you see on your kids’ faces?

Or, do you go into panic mode and immediate denial? Does the sound of the holiday season send you into a whirlwind of dread, stress, and the feeling of a 50 pound weight on your shoulders? Does the sound of Christmas carols remind you of the sound of your bank account being siphoned by Santa’s elves, AKA the marketing geniuses at the big department stores?

If you ask any of my friends to tell you three things about me, I can guarantee that at least one of those things will be about my love of Christmas.  The other two may have something to do with my wicked awesome dance moves, but more about that another time.

I. Love. Christmas. I can tell you how many days are left until the most magical day of the year, at any given moment (one of my better party tricks, along with the awesome dance moves). I sing Christmas Carols in August. I have lights that flash to music on the outside of my house, and my Christmas parties are that of legend.  Give me a group of people singing Silent Night, an over-sized mug of grownup egg nog in my hand, and some twinkle lights, and I’m in my happy place.

…but it doesn’t come without stress.  Even as the biggest Christmas nut within a 50 mile radius, I’m not immune to the feeling of near-hyperventilation when it’s December 20th and I still have that ONE LAST thing to get, or when I have to get ANOTHER “white elephant gift” for a party that I don’t even want to go to #introvert.

Every year we make to-do lists with awesome intentions and vow that the holiday season will NOT get the best of us, yet the list grows every day and suddenly we’re drowning in tinsel, wrapping paper, and that annoying piece of invisible tape that gets stuck to our chipped nails, because, who has time to get a manicure around the holidays?
I get it. The holidays are exhausting. They’re expensive, impossible to keep up with, and let’s not EVEN get started on the drama the relatives bring, amiright?
But the holidays can be so much more manageable and dare I say, ENJOYABLE, if we’re willing to prioritize. Here are a few things I (almost) always do to make that time of year a little less manic:

When the thick of the season hits, even I get that little lump of anxiety in the back of my throat.  My to-do lists become endless and entirely unachievable, and I become so stressed that my family wants to be anything BUT together with me.

We deal with the crowds, the stress, the worry over finding the “perfect” gift for the person who has everything, the list goes on.  That’s why I’ve come up with these 10 Ways to Reduce Stress During the Holidays:

SAVE A LITTLE MONEY

Financial strain is one of the top causes of stress during the Holiday Season.  Saving up a little bit at a time can make a huge difference in your stress level.  Here are a couple of ways to save money for all that glorious shopping without having a heart attack when you open January’s credit card statement:

Starting now, set aside 2% – 5% of your paycheck, each time you get paid.

Download a free app like Digit or Acorns that will tuck little bits of money away for you based on your current budget and spending.  I’ve had friends who have used these apps and saved up to $300 in one month!

MAKE “FREEZER MEALS”

This takes just a little time and effort, but trust me when I say it is SO WORTH IT! There are thousands of freezer-friendly recipes on Pinterest, including these that I’ve found from a few of my friends.  It takes only a little preparation throughout the week and 6 to 8 hours of cooking over one or two days and you can have WEEKS of prepared meals to just pop in the oven or on the stove.  It’s will totally pay off during those busy nights when you’ve gone out shopping or you need something quick for the kids and the babysitter while you’re at that company holiday party.

DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE

I never get tired of the saying, “It’s better to give than to receive” because it is SO TRUE.  Whenever I’m feeling down or like my world is crashing around me, I go out and do something for someone else. It doesn’t have to be huge: deliver a small bouquet of flowers to a friend or write a note to someone and leave it on their desk at work. Hey, even a SMILE at a stranger in the mall can go such a long way! You’ll find that the wonderful feeling of doing something kind for someone else takes the focus off of the things that are causing you stress and gives you the perspective you need.

Make it a point to turn away from your to-do’s and the constant demands of the season and show some love. That’s what the season is all about, right? In our family, we love paying for the person behind us at Starbucks, giving $5 to a random stranger, and to taking time together as a family where we aren’t talking about our list of wants or the endless list of things that still need to be done.

Personally, I especially love to walk around downtown where we live: there’s a huge Christmas tree, and the whole town is lit up with lights. I love to take it all in, and imagine that there’s absolutely nothing left to do except enjoy this season.

DO AN ADVENT ACTIVITY COUNTDOWN

This has been one of my all-time favorite traditions with my kids, and they still look forward to it even now that they’re a little older.  We do an activity each day, beginning December 1^st.  It can be as elaborate as going to a scheduled community event like our neighborhood’s light trail, or as simple as a “random act of kindness.” My kids love hopping in the car and getting Starbucks’ hot chocolate and then paying for the person’s drinks behind us! It’s all about being together and enjoying all the possibilities of the season.

You can download my free list of Advent activity ideas here!

HAVE GROCERIES DELIVERED

I don’t mind the quick trip for marshmallows, but when it comes to the regular food shopping and the perpetual need for Scotch tape this time of year, there just never seems to be enough time for it all during the month of December.  Enter the grocery delivery service.  Most retail grocery stores either have a delivery service or pick up service (or both) for a very small fee. My local grocery store lets me order online and delivers it to my door for a $10 fee.  In a time of year when we’re constantly entertaining and on the run my time is worth way more than that, and not having to fight the crowds and spend all the extra time and money in the impulse aisles has saved me money AND sanity in December!

BUY FROZEN COOKIE DOUGH

Okay. In my perfect, Betty Crocker, June Cleaver world, all of my Christmas cookies would be made from scratch and still warm from the oven when I give them away or take them to a party.  But sometimes (fine…ALL of the time) that just doesn’t happen and especially when the Advent Activity is “decorate cookies,” the kids get home in 15 minutes and I haven’t even thought about it, that pre-made cookie dough is what I call on. It’s about the memories and fun, not about if you added the baking powder yourself.

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH COMMUNITY

Christmas can be a difficult time for some; a reminder of past hurt or pain and seemingly impossible to enjoy.  Maybe the hurt or stress comes from family politics or memories of a difficult loss during the holidays.

Community is so important during this time and always! Surround yourself with positive people who will encourage you.  Invite a friend or a neighbor to go to a lights display or Christmas tree shopping with you.  Create new traditions and rituals that help you heal and move forward from past hurt.   

SHOP AHEAD

I know we don’t all get in the headspace of buying Christmas gifts until Santa rolls down 34th Street in New York, but believe me when I say that shopping ahead in small spurts will do wonders for your stress level AND your pocketbook. Try to pick out a few things on Amazon during your toothpaste shopping (what? I buy toothpaste on Amazon and you should too!). Head to the Dollar Store and grab those “White Elephant” gifts you can have on hand when you’re invited to that holiday party at work, at school, or in your MOPs group. I always like to have a “hot chocolate kit” at all times, complete with a mug, some hot chocolate mix, and marshmallows (with a shooter of Bailey’s if it’s that kind of party).  That way when it comes time for party day, I’m not panicking because I forgot to bring a gift. Another thing you can do is grab a few bottles of wine and some bows for teachers, party hosts, or yourself when you just can’t deal. Kidding, not kidding.

LET GO OF ONE THING

I think the second biggest stressor of the holiday season is the feeling of being overwhelmed with all the things that need to be done, especially if you’re a mom. There are the school parties, teacher gifts, work parties, Scouting parties, gift exchanges, wanting to be the best-decorated house in the neighborhood (or decorating outside at all), and it all gets to be a little too much.

For an idealist, over-achieving, neurotic perfectionist like me (and these traits only amplify in the month of December…pray for my husband you guys), I want to do it all, achieve it all and spread Christmas cheer like one of Santa’s elves on steroids…. At the expense of my well-being and remembering what’s important.

I encourage you to let go of just one thing that you feel like you “have” to do this season.  Maybe it’s sending out Christmas cards or making gifts for everyone in the office.  There is always one thing you can let go of, just this year.  For me, it was delivering home-baked treats to all my neighbors in hand painted cookie tins last year.  This year I’m letting go of having the lights outside my house synchronized to music.  Told you I was an over-achiever…

BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT REST

This is always so important no matter what time of year, but it’s never as overlooked as during the holidays. This time of year especially, our culture becomes so busy and consumed with everything that needs to be done that just going to the grocery store can be an anxiety-ridden task, just because of the people around you.
Take fifteen minutes every day to breathe deeply, be thankful, meditate; whatever centers you. Get good sleep whenever you can. Remember that the season is about togetherness and being grateful.  It’s easy to get caught up in the wants and needs of others during the season, especially if you’re a mom! Make sure you spend time every day resting and taking care of yourself.

 

Outside pressure will always want you to hustle, bustle, and lose yourself during the craziness of this time of year, but stay grateful, do little bits at a time, and remember the magic.  You’ll never be sorry.