5 Ways to Reduce your Stress this Holiday Season

The holiday season is upon us and already the level of energy and anxiety is starting to build. 

 

For many people, the holidays equal “stress” not “peace on earth” that many of you hope and dream for.

 

What can YOU do that will help you shift from a place of stress and overwhelm during the holidays to a sense of peace, joy and bliss.  

1)      Do a BRAIN DUMP all of your “shoulds” this holiday. Write out a list of everything you think you “should do” to make the holiday “perfect”.

a.       The Christmas baking you “should do”,

b.      The gifts you “should” buy,

c.       The decorating you “should” do,

d.      The money you “should” spend (that you don’t have),

e.      The “feeling” you should create,

f.        The relationships that you “should” mend

g.       Anything else that comes to mind that you “should” do

2)      Look at this list and reflect on each item by asking yourself the following question. Am I doing this because

a.       I want to?

b.      I need to? (clarify if the need is real or imagined)

c.       Someone else expects me to?

d.      I don’t know why I am doing this

e.      Be honest with yourself here. Often times we feel the need to do something because someone else expects us too and we don’t know how to say NO. What do YOU want?

3)      Now that you have a clear idea as to why you are doing the things you have on your list, next set some priorities which items to do first, second etc. 

a.       Take each item and determine which is the most important to do first, then second. 

b.      Take the first item on your list and call it #1. Then take the next item and determine if it is more important than the first item, if it is, make it #1 on the list and then make the other #2.

c.       Compare each item on your list and come up with a numbered list of all that you need to do. 

d.      Make sure that you take the things that are a “nice to do”, “if I have time I will do” and “I don’t know why I am doing them” and put them at the bottom of the list.

e.      Do this with every item and soon you will have a prioritized list.

4)      Once you have clarified your priorities, separate them into 4 categories. 

a.       Ones that can be accomplished in I hour or less

b.      Ones that are high priority and can be broken down into smaller chunks. 

c.       Ones that you can delegate

d.      Ones that you have little control over

5)      Get to work –Look at the list and create an action plan. Begin any action plan by setting the intention for how you want to BE as you do the work. If you want to feel calm, present, focused, and excited about all that you “want to do” then set yourself up to BE just that. 

 

These 5 steps help you take the RIGHT action steps this holiday season. When you combine this planning with a regular practice of deep belly breathing, and setting the intention for how you want to “show up”, you have a formula to reduce your stress with success this holiday season.

 

Don’t let worry, stress and overwhelm dominate your time with your family over the holidays. 

 

Choose a different way of BEING and by responding differently to the pressures that you feel.

 

 Breathing, Setting the Intention and Planning are three fundamental steps in helping you achieve all you want to achieve in life.

Hugs

Gerrianne