4 Ways To Reduce The Stress This Holiday Season

Ah, the holidays. The most wonderful time of year! Full of laughter, sparkling decorations, delicious treats, and… stress? While most of us are wholeheartedly nodding along, your holiday planning doesn’t need to get you down – we’ve got you covered, girl.

There are a few things you can do to get ahead of the game when it comes to getting yourself organized for the holidays, whether it’s big family gatherings or finding the perfect look for the endless holiday parties heading your way!

1 | Make a list of all the big events coming up in your calendar.

Family dinners, work holiday parties, that big bash coming up at your friend’s new place… you know the drill! Whether you write it out on your phone or on a bunch of sticky notes, this will help you get a bird’s eye view of everything that’s coming up – and help you manage it in bite sized chunks!

2 | If you’re hosting a few of these festive gatherings, do your best to pick out your food and recipes well in advance!

This is going to save you the panicked walk through the market wondering what in the name of Rudolph you’re going to make for dinner. While you’re brainstorming food ideas, make sure you ask your guests about allergies or diet restrictions! No need to get crazy, but it’s best not to make a nut loaf for someone who’s allergic to pecans. Here’s a few great links to get your culinary engine started:

• Food52: a great place to test out some new and creative holiday treats!
• FoodGawker: filter to exactly what you’re looking for and get stuck in! Perfect for when you feel a little stuck.
• Pinterest: we couldn’t help ourselves! Pinterest comes to the rescue over and over again, so don’t forget about this cracker of a resource for fun holiday eats.

3 | Don’t feel the need to break the bank with a new outfit for every occasion.

We all know that money can be a big cause of stress during the holidays. When you’re feeling pressured, remember that the holidays are the perfect opportunity for creating memories and moments. Your friends and family are going to be happier to see a smile on your face than a new dress any day! Besides, you can always head out and pick yourself up a few sparkly accessories to dress up an old favourite for the holidays – save that hard earned cash for the Boxing Day sales!

4 | Do one thing a day to keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed.

Let’s be honest: we all let little things slip through the cracks because we’d much rather jump straight into the PJ’s and Netflix portion of the evening. We’re certainly not saying that you can’t do that, but before you get cozy try to accomplish one thing that you’ve been meaning to do. Trust us, it’ll make you feel good to get it out of the way and will keep you from feeling like you’re drowning in tasks (or the laundry you’ve been meaning to do!) down the line. So go ahead and wrap a present, or vacuum the carpets before getting stuck in to your favourite show – it’s worth it!

We know we’re looking forward to the holidays and curling up with a cup of something cozy – we hope you are too! Any tips or tricks that keep you sane during the holidays? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear it!

– image credit: Lizzie Guilbert