The holiday season is upon us again, bringing opportunities for joy, connection, and celebration with loved ones. Festive energy is in the air and there are so many beautiful decorations, meals, and presents to look forward to. While this can be a happy time of year for people, it can also bring added stress to families who feel pressure to create the “perfect” holiday memories.
We wanted to share some insights on how families can navigate the holiday season with minimal stress. By managing expectations and focusing on what matters, we can all enjoy ourselves and avoid unnecessary anxiety.
So what are some ways to have a healthy and low-stress holiday season? Keep reading to learn more!
Simple & Meaningful Traditions
Spending time with loved ones is at the core of what brings meaning and fulfillment during the holiday season. By building meaningful and low-stress traditions, families can focus on what truly brings joy and comfort while avoiding anxiety-inducing activities. For example, instead of attempting to complete every traditional holiday activity or event – pick a few that bring the most joy to your family. This might include watching holiday movies together, volunteering at a food bank, or baking cookies as a family.
It’s important to be flexible during the holidays and adjust or cancel plans that feel overwhelming. By focusing on being together and connecting with loved ones, a healthy holiday season can feel more joyous and less intimidating to those organizing and managing activities.
Focus on Gratitude & Positivity
Practicing gratitude can be a powerful way to counteract the build-up of stress and anxiety. During the holidays, it can be very beneficial for families to incorporate moments of gratitude throughout the day. For example, setting up a gratitude jar can allow family members to share what they’re thankful for. Doing so can create opportunities to get together and reflect on the positive aspects of life as a family.
It can also be helpful to focus conversations on positive topics and avoid stressful topics that can bring about conflict. For example, stories or current events that share uplifting information can help build a calm and low-stress environment. Limiting exposure to the news can also be helpful to help everybody avoid unnecessary stress and anxiety during the holidays. This can be done by setting aside periods of the day when the family agrees to disconnect from news or social media. Generally, mealtimes or family activities are good times to set these limits.
Build in Time for Self-Care
To create low-stress environments, families can also integrate opportunities for various types of self-care during the holidays. It’s easy for parents and children to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season and neglect things that help us maintain our energy and overall well-being. Building in moments of quiet time can help family members rest, read, or do other relaxing activities that help them reset. Physical activities like family walks, yoga sessions, or dance parties can also relieve stress and provide opportunities to connect with loved ones in healthy ways.
Families can also create environments that encourage loved ones to share their thoughts and feelings openly. Doing so can create safe spaces for vulnerability and show family members that they have support when they need it. When children and adults feel heard and understood, they can let go of stress more easily and feel more connected to those who care about them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a healthy holiday season can be a wonderful time to connect with loved ones and build joyful memories. While doing so, it can be helpful to integrate mindful approaches that lower stress levels and reduce anxiety. Prioritizing what truly matters is key to creating holiday activities that bring joy and bring loved ones together.
This season doesn’t have to be overwhelming or overcomplicated to be fun and full of happy memories. Focusing on gratitude and positivity can set the tone for a calming, happy, and engaging holiday season. Creating moments of calm, quiet, and physical activity can also encourage family members to release stress and build positive energy with the people who love them the most.