5 Tips to Avoid Holiday Stress for Moms
The holidays tend to be a very stressful time of year for everyone. Everyone is focused on getting that perfect gift for someone or everyone on their list. They want to make the best fruitcake, gingerbread house, meal, etc. Moms try to make everything special while still trying to make it about family. Some people try working overtime to impress the boss while neglecting their family, etc. No one ever seems happy anymore. STOP! You can still have your fun holiday without the holiday stress.
Here are five tips to deal with holiday stress:
Be Smart and Make a plan
Yes, plan ahead. Something I remember from being a Marine Corps wife was the 6 Ps. “Prior proper planning to prevent poor performance.” I think this could go for all. But this also means needing to say no. Many moms still haven’t learned to do this, I’m slowly learning this myself. Maybe this is your cue to start.
Grab a notebook or a planner and plan out your month or at least that busy part. Make sure to schedule in exercise, pal time, church events (1 or 2), kids’ performances (if they have any school functions), and prayer time. Don’t overbook yourself! An overbooked mom becomes a stressed-out, grouchy mom. No one wants a Grinch for a Mom.
Plans include making a budget. I know not everyone likes them but in the long run that present budget comes in handy. You could have everyone send you a list of the things they want and you go buy them. Or you could get to know that person and buy from what they enjoy.
Is it a tight Christmas?
Budgets are really important if money is tight. Have you considered homemade gifts? I recently got a loom knitting machine and I love using it. So far I’ve learned to make Beanies, this would make a great gift idea. It will keep someone warm that you love and you could do it in their favorite color. If you could sew there are many things you can make. Do you bake? Make their favorite dessert!
Still wanting to have a gift in hand that you didn’t create? That’s fine not everyone is crafty. You could go to thrift stores, dollar stores, dollar general, Goodwill, and even those Facebook Marketplace to get stuff on sale.
In the past when my budget was low I’d go to the Dollar Tree and purchase a basket, girlie stuff and put it all together. Wrap it in plastic wrap, tie it with a bow and you’ve got a nice gift set. Some people will buy pretty fluffy socks, lotions, some fingernail polish and package them together and sell them. Why would this not be a good gift? This would be a great gift! Walmart sells them for about $15-20.
For $10 or less you could grab a few toy cars (hot wheel style) and a few race tracks, bundle them together and you have a little toy set. Do you have a book lover? Grab a few books from the dollar store, make some bookmarks (or buy some, at a nice coffee cup and some tea/hot chocolate mix and you have a gift.
Ask for Help
While you are planning out your month see what you love to do and schedule it in. Now, this next concept may sound unfamiliar to you but think of the tasks you really don’t enjoy and see if you know someone else that does. Ask for help!
See what tasks the two of you can swap. You never know you may like wrapping but they may like shopping and hate wrapping. They may like making cheeseball spreads and side dishes while you like making the main course, if you don’t ask you’ll never know.
As moms, we try to do it all ourselves but the truth is we put a lot of the pressure on ourselves. If we simply asked for help we’d have more energy to give to the things we really enjoy. This holiday season see what you can pass on for someone else to do.
Self-Care is Important. Take a Break!
Self-care time is highly important when we are rushing around and doing everything else except taking care of ourselves. Make sure to have a little downtime to enjoy some of the things you like. This includes hanging out with your friends, eating right, and enjoying those small things that bring you joy. For me, it is watching Christmas movies and journaling.
Self-care is an important way to help stress stay away. Once you wake up, stretch and think of a few positive things to be grateful for before even getting out of bed. Have you done that? Now, drink a glass of water and hop in the shower. I don’t know about you but that shower really helps me feel better about the day.
Exercise helps reduce Stress
Exercise, exercise, exercise! Get up and get moving. This will also help clear your mind and center you so you feel good about your day. For me, I like to walk first thing in the morning. The brisk morning air makes me relax and I just enjoy hearing mother nature sing to me. This is typically where I like to do a prayer walk and thank him for everything I come across and pray for others on my mind.
Meditate and Read the Bible.
Many of us are always running around that it is hard to take a breath and just relax. This means you need a bit of self-care once again. Stop and take a breath. Focus. Try doing some meditation techniques.
Focus on Christ. When you are overwhelmed with stress or overwhelmed with everything else, it’s easy to focus on other things to keep from being overwhelmed. Instead of focusing on what can go wrong, Christians should focus on what can go right!
Another thing you can do is read the bible regularly. Meditate on the word. Pray before reading the scripture and then think about what you read. Trust in God’s goodness and plan your day according to his word. Spend time with Him first thing in the morning, either reading Scripture or focusing (bible verses on stress or anxiety) on something he has blessed you with so far today (like going to the zoo, seeing a friend, or a museum).
Make sure to praise God for both the good things happening in your life right now but also the bad. If you are always focusing on the good, even in a bad situation you’ll get right back up.
Make sure to Have Fun with those you love!
When you are making all those plans for family and friend visits, make sure to make a fun list of things YOU want to do too. This doesn’t mean running around like a crazy person buying all those decorations, baking the perfect chocolate truffle, or hosting parties…not unless that is YOUR thing.
I like to make desserts (hot cocoa bombs, peppermint bark, puppy chow) and fun crafts (painted ornaments, paintings with the kids, decorating stockings) with the kids. So I make sure to schedule the fun stuff in that I enjoy doing. Oh, and of course a few games (plastic wrap ball game) and outdoor snowball fights. “The Christmas Spirit is at work within me and I know He is responsible for my joy.” ~ Maya Angelou. Be the Joy Jesus would want to shine from you.
Volunteer for the Holidays
Instead of worrying about all those presents and meals that need to be cooked, something good for another person. Volunteer at a church event, feed the homeless at a shelter, etc. We use to visit nursing homes and bring them cards the kids made or just visit. This would be a great thing to do as a family too. By doing something good every day, the stress of the season will melt away!
Conclusion
Remember, the more you stress about the present, the less you will be in the present. If you want your family or friends to remember your cheerful, happy self there, then you need to make sure you are there. Above all take care of yourself this holiday season and shine.
