Top 5 Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday Season

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Unless you’re too stressed out to enjoy it.

Stress at any time of the year isn’t fun. It isn’t good for you. But holiday stress seems to be even worse. Because, let’s face it … we want the holidays to be wonderful. We want to feel peace and joy and goodwill toward man.

And stress takes all the peace, joy, and goodwill right out of the holidays.

So this year, we invite you to borrow our top 5 tips for a stress-free holiday season. Here they are, in no particular order:

Stress-Free Holiday Tip #1: Make Lists

Writing things down frees up bandwidth in your brain. You can stop worrying that you’ll forget something, because it’s written down on your list.

You can keep lists on sticky notes, in a notebook or planner, on your phone, in a document on your computer … or any combination of these that works for you. There’s no right or wrong way. The best way is simply what you’ll actually do.

But don’t just write it and forget it. Cross things off as you do them. There’s something so satisfying about a list with items that have been checked off!

Stress-Free Holiday Tip #2: Make Time for Quiet Time

Amid all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, make time for prayer, meditation, or simple quiet time each day. Even the busiest of us can carve out 5 minutes for ourselves somewhere in the day. Remember to do so. Make it a habit. It will renew your spirit and your energy if you’ll let it.

Stress-Free Holiday Tip #3: Plan Ahead

Planning ahead allows you to pace yourself. Like a runner running a marathon … you’ll never cross the finish line if you’re going at full-speed the entire race. So plan ahead for shopping, baking, decorating, get-togethers, and guests.
And don’t over-book yourself. If there’s some flexibility planned into your schedule, you can better weather the last-minute things that always seem to pop up into our best-laid plans.

Stress-Free Holiday Tip #4: Ask for Help

Put your cape back in the closet and realize that you do NOT need to be a holiday superhero. Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have to do it all yourself? Imagine how nice it would feel to allow others the blessing of helping you.

This may be a mindset shift for you. That’s OK. Allow it to be. Remove the shame from asking for help and look at it as a gift … you’re giving someone else the opportunity to feel needed. That’s priceless.

Stress-Free Holiday Tip #5: Be Present

For many of us, this is easier said than done. The act of keeping your mind focused on the present moment takes practice. It takes concentrated effort.

It’s worth the effort.

Keep your eyes open to the beautiful holiday sights around you. Hear the sounds. Smell the smells. Feel the feelings.
Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, and today is a gift … that’s why we call it the present. Treat it as such, and there will be no room for stress in your day.

Call us at (559) 264-6677 or contact us using the form below, and check house cleaning off your list!