As the holiday season is approaching and people are starting to get into the festive spirit, you’re probably wondering how to enjoy the fun of it all and avoid holiday overwhelm. How do you slow down and enjoy the simple moments when there’s constant noise around you?
You’re constantly being told to buy this, attend that, say yes to every invitation, say no to self-care, and just go, go, go until you’re left with no energy or willpower to actually enjoy what the holidays are all about.
It doesn’t have to be this way, I promise. There’s a different way to celebrate without the drama, guilt, overwhelm, overspending, and over-exerting yourself.
How about this year, we tend to ourselves a little more and put our own well-being first? This doesn’t mean you’re self-centered, it just means you’re making your heart and mind a priority.
Here are six gentle ways to nurture yourself and find balance this holiday season.
1. Plan Ahead
If there’s one tip I can give you to make your holidays less stressful, it’s to plan everything ahead. From budgets and shopping lists to gifts, decorations, and holiday menus.
Here are some suggestions:
- Holiday Budget – Set a budget and stick to it, no matter how tempted you are to spend more.
- Shopping Lists – Decide on what you actually need to buy and resist the holiday sales.
- Gifts – Can you DIY some of the gifts or set a budget for them this year?
- Holiday Menu – Simplify and reduce the number of holiday meals this year.
- Decorations – Reuse, recycle, or DIY your holiday decorations.
- Hosting and Events – Only attend events that you truly don’t want to miss.
In my FREE Simple Guide to Slow Living you’ll find an entire holiday planning chapter + seasonal planner pages to help you have a slow, simple, and intentional festive season.
Do Your Christmas Shopping Ahead of Time
If possible, start shopping for gifts and things for the holidays ahead of time. This way, instead of getting overwhelmed with the amount of gifts you need to buy last minute, you’ll have plenty of time to browse and get just a few things at a time.
If you need gift ideas for your entire family (and for yourself), check out my Gift Guides page where you’ll find all kinds of gifts in different price ranges and themes.
Plan Your Holiday Festivities Ahead of Time
What parties, events, and gatherings can you attend and still have time for yourself and your family? Are there some things you can say ‘no’ to? Can you skip some events and stay home with your closest circle?
It can be hard to do things differently as you don’t want to hurt people but at some point, you need to choose yourself and your own happiness. You can still have a wonderful holiday season at home, making memories with the people that matter the most.
DIY Some of Your Gifts
Giving gifts that you’ve put a lot of thought into is one of the most beautiful ways to show people how much you love them. This is especially true for DIY gifts like homemade Christmas cookies, hot chocolate mix in a jar, personalized coffee mugs, festive baking aprons, hand-poured homemade candles, and more!
2. Create a Simple Holiday Routine
The holidays are busy by default so creating and maintaining a simple routine can be your saving grace during the most overwhelming time of the year.
If you’re a morning person, schedule the more productive things for the beginning of the day and leave the evenings free for personal time. No matter how busy your days are, find time for some soul-soothing activities like having a cup of coffee, reading, maybe some yoga or meditation, or a short walk outside.
Limit the time you spend on holiday activities such as Christmas shopping, meal planning or gift wrapping to 1-2 hours per day. This way, you’ll have enough time for self-care, taking care of your family, and festive activities without getting overwhelmed.
3. Cultivate a Joyful Mindset
The holidays are all about merriment, being grateful for what we have and nurturing a sense of togetherness. To avoid holiday overwhelm and truly enjoy the sparkle, connection, community, and the gift of life, you need to cultivate a joyful mindset.
You can do this by creating new heartfelt traditions with your loved ones and make them personal to your family. You’ll create new precious memories that last a lifetime and you’ll have something to be excited about each holiday season!
Engaging the senses in cozy holiday scents, delicious flavors, and calming sounds is one of the simplest ways to find joy in the moment. Whether it’s the smell of your favorite cookies, a winter candle, or the texture of your warmest blanket, you’re in for a treat when you indulge in these small yet meaningful things.
4. Give Yourself Time To Rest
During the holidays, it’s can be an actual challenge to slow down and give yourself time to rest and recharge. There’s always something to do or somewhere to be but rest needs to be a priority for you during this time.
Rest can be sleeping in just a little in the morning or taking a quick nap in the afternoon. It can also be going for a walk all by yourself to clear your head or enjoying a quiet evening in a bubble bath. Whatever rest looks like for you, take it and don’t compromise on it.
Don’t know what kind of rest you need most? Learn about the 7 types of rest that are essential for your health and wellbeing.
5. Simplify Your Holiday Menu
One of the best ways to avoid holiday overwhelm is to simplify your holiday menu. It’s all about what makes you happy and if being stuck in the kitchen is not on your list of festivities, make a new plan.
Instead of cooking multiple dishes and desserts, pick one or two main dishes, a few easy sides, and a simple dessert. Remember, it doesn’t matter how many different dishes you’ve prepared – celebrating with your loved ones around the holiday table is what matters most.
Need some holiday menu inspo? Here are 34 make-ahead recipes for a stress-free holiday dinner.
6. Limit Your Holiday Commitments
Limiting or reducing your holiday commitments is one of the best things you can do for your mental and emotional health. We’re so used to doing things out of obligation when we’d rather stay at home and spend time with the people we love.
This holiday season, allow yourself to start saying ‘NO’ to anything your heart doesn’t resonate with. You don’t have to accept every invitation, you don’t need to spend tons and tons of money on gifts, and you don’t have to cook ALL the holiday meals.
Your peace of mind matters and you deserve to have a holiday season that fulfills you rather than depletes you and stresses you out.
Here are some of the things I’m saying NO to this holiday season (and so should you):
- NO to brand new Christmas ornaments and decorations and YES to reusing what I already have;
- NO to buying things just because they’re on sale and YES to only buying what I truly need;
- NO to an excessive holiday menu and YES to only cooking the meals and food my family loves;
- NO to people and things that don’t bring me joy and YES to spending time with those who uplift me;
- NO to overeating and overconsuming food and drinks and YES to balance and moderation;
- NO to making a long list of New Year’s resolutions and YES to setting a few realistic goals.
What I’m saying YES to this holiday season:
- Rest and self-care
- Being in the moment
- Creativity and writing
- Christmas tree lights
- Cinnamon rolls
- Festive coffee
- Decorating the tree
- Long walks on snowy days
- Nights at home under a blanket
- Intentional shopping
- Holiday candles
There are so many little things in everyday life that we can find delight in during the holidays! ❄️
Embrace the Magic of the Season and Avoid Holiday Overwhelm
As festive and exciting as the holidays can be, they can also be a stressful time for many of us. With all the shopping, events, family gatherings, cooking, and hosting we’re expected to do, it’s no wonder you’re overwhelmed and unable to enjoy the magic of the season.
This year, choose to only do the things that bring you genuine joy for the holidays. Whether it’s reusing your decorations, simplifying your holiday menu, or resisting the Black Friday sales, you can customize your festivities the way you see fit.
Discover more holiday blog posts and gift guides to make the most of this holiday season!
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