Holiday anxiety or holiday joy? What characterizes this time of year for you?
For too many people, the Holidays have become busy, stressful, and even disappointing. They fly by in a rush of too many activities, and leave us exhausted as we head into a New Year.
This year, you can replace holiday anxiety with holiday joy. Here’s how.
During the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to forget to eat well, drink enough water, and to get enough sleep. These are your body’s power sources! Don’t let them slip. Here are a few tips to help:
If the holiday season is rush, rush, rush, choose to say “no” more often. Busy schedules almost always increase holiday anxiety.
The extra activities bring joy to some, and stress to others. If it’s stress for you, choose a simpler peaceful holiday season rather than a busy one. It’s okay to say “no” to extra activities.
Unfortunately, the holiday season has become one of the most stressful times of year for many people. This year, tame the stress. A few ways to reduce your anxiety are:
One of the biggest joy-killers in life is unmet unrealistic expectations. In fact, they often make us miss the amazing experiences we are actually living since we are so focused on what “should be.”
How can you avoid this pitfall?
First, let go of the perfect Christmas images you may have from childhood memories, stories, or films. Then, set your expectations based on your own life, in the present tense, and on things you can control.
Take time to truly enjoy the people and experiences in your life. If needed, get out of your comfort zone and go to a new church service, charity or volunteer opportunity, club, or group to meet people.
Lastly, focus on the true meaning of the season, the birth of Jesus Christ!
The holiday season is not the end. Instead of thinking of it as a time to quit on your healthy habits, use it as a springboard into the New Year instead. Not only will this attitude make your holiday season better, optimism is amazing for your mental, physical, and emotional health. In fact, it may just be the actual fountain of youth (10). What a great way to spring into another year!
You can experience true Holiday Joy this year. While the holiday season can be rife with anxiety, use our simple habits to choose joy instead. Make sure to energize yourself daily, don’t allow yourself to become overscheduled, use healthy stress busters, savor people, experiences, and true Christmas meaning, and focus on optimism for the future. Christmas joy is here.