I didn’t like Christmas or the whole rush of the holidays. There was too much stress. The kids and I felt tired and cranky. I even wished we could skip the whole hoopla.
We needed a different way to celebrate the season if we wanted less stress!
Breathing Room
Paul wrote to the Corinthians and said, Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then, the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:1)
In December, we pared down what we once considered “normal” for the month to create breathing room and time to relax. I hope some of our changes to live a more peaceful life this time of year help you create a better balance.
10 Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress
- Attend Church – Pick the service that benefits the whole family. Remember- the reason we celebrate is Jesus.
- Walk and Talk -Take a walk with your husband or kids while you exercise and catch up on what’s happening.
- Get Plenty of Rest – Go to bed at a decent hour and improve your attitude. If it can’t be done on a typical day, delegate, drop, or delete it.
- Allow One Treat – Instead of dieting during the holidays, try to maintain your current weight, but don’t deny yourself some of your favorite foods.
- Plan a Date – Make dates a part of your normal activities. Shopping and food, looking at the Christmas tree lights in the dark, or snuggling by the fire all qualify.
- Limit the Gifts – Share your love, but don’t go into debt. Spending too much causes unnecessary stress now and in the new year.
- Enjoy Family Fun – Do an activity the whole family enjoys and watch the stress evaporate. Go sledding, bake cookies, and drive around to look at the Christmas lights.
- Make Your Gift List – Take pictures at the store, fill out a gift list online, or send links to your husband of things you’d like. Be sure to include size and color.
- Pick Your Favorite Decorations – If putting everything up this year feels like too much stress. Pick your favorites and set aside time to decorate, maybe as a family.
- Limit the Parties – Enjoy celebrating with friends, but ensure it’s not too much. Have each person pick one event they want most, then add other events and they fit into the schedule.
