The holiday season can be stressful. With so many social gatherings to attend, presents to buy and meals to cook you can feel like your running around like a chicken with your head cut off. 

The holidays shouldn’t be all about stress and worry. They’re supposed to be a time of relaxation and celebration. Unfortunately for so many they are the most stressful time of the year.  If your organized and set your priorities this time of year doesn’t have to be a balancing act.

Here are some tips for beating holiday stress:

Set your priorities

This could be the solution to many of the stresses we experience in our lives, but I think it’s particularly true for this time of year. Think about what aspects of the holiday season that are most important to you. Is it spending time with family? Is having time off work? Is it eating delicious holiday meals? The less important things can slip a bit. Pick some priorities and stick to them. Don’t over book yourself with activities you’d rather not do.

Forgive

We don’t always have the best of relationships with our families. This can make the holidays even harder to deal with. Strained family relationships give you extra stress. Try to make amends with family members before the holiday season. If the person doesn’t want to forgive and forget, just try your best to be civil. Being on your best behavior won’t just help ease your holiday stress, it will help the whole family.

Delegate

You don’t have to be in charge of everything. Delegating tasks is something that comes easily for me, but most people have a problem with it. Explain to family and friends that you may need some help with certain tasks. Have everyone bring a side dish or dessert to your big holiday meal. You’ll be surprised at how many people are willing to help out.

Don’t spend too much

The holidays aren’t all about money. Don’t buy gifts that you can’t really afford. Overspending just adds to your stress later. For money saving ideas check out 10 Ways to Save Money During the Holidays.

Do something nice for yourself

Take a break. Have a spa day at home or go get a massage. These are great ways to pamper yourself. Everyone needs to take some time to relax and breathe.

Photo by willi_hybrid

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