There’s no doubt that holidays are stressful. Between making sure everyone on your list has gifts, cooking meals, baking, and all the festivities, it can easily get overwhelming. Add that to what’s going on in the world between shortages, covid, and everything in between, it is a whirlwind of emotions for most people.
Good news - There are easy and effective methods to cope. Despite your mile-long to-do list and the uncertainty of the world, you can still ease through the holiday season less stressed.
#1 - Be mindful, be present
As you embrace the holiday season, remind yourself to be mindful of the way you are carrying your energy. For example, check on your shoulders - are they tense? Let them down and feel a weight drop with ease. Next, check your jaw - Is it clenched? Loosen it up. Between your eyebrows? Are you squinting? Relax your eyes. Do this throughout your body. Everyone holds their tension differently. Be mindful of tension. If you feel anxious, focus on your breathing. Appreciate your surroundings.
Also, be present with everyone around you. There is a saying about how people listen to respond, and not listen to understand. Be sure you are listening to people around you to understand. Don’t pretend you’re listening while you’re thinking of what needs to be done and what should be done next. Just be present.
#2 - Meditate with silence and be at peace
Step out into nature if you can handle the cold (depending on where you live) and just sit, by yourself, and just be at peace in the silence. If you’d rather stay inside, that’s okay too. Try to give yourself a meditation time to just sit in silence. Don’t think about anything you have to do. Just be there, present, in the moment, knowing nobody needs anything of you in that time. You can close your eyes and think of yourself being somewhere peaceful. Even if you have just 10-15 minutes each day, that’s okay.
#3 - Ease stress with relaxing scents through aromatherapy
Essential oils can be used in a diffuser throughout your home to keep a relaxing vibe going. If you rather not diffuse scents, you can just open the cap to an essential oil bottle and inhale a few times, allowing the relaxing scent to bring ease to your mind and body. Another way is getting a SteamHead for your shower and putting a few drops in it, which would be called a steam bath. A relaxing bath plus essential oil through steam feels like heaven and is sure to melt away that added stress.
#4 - Practice gratitude to appreciate life
As stress bombards your daily life, it’s easy to feel frustrated. Practicing gratitude is an effective way to lessen the stress this holiday season. For example, as you are getting overwhelmed with all the cooking, pause and reflect that if you didn’t have a family, you wouldn’t be able to cook. Think about how grateful you are to have family and friends to cook for. Also, be grateful for the food you are able to buy and cook. Be grateful for the house you can provide to your guests, or if you are going somewhere else, be grateful they are sharing their home for this meal and get-together. Be grateful every day you are alive and your stress can reduce greatly. Of course, stress and anxiety are common and even normal. However, it’s not healthy to live in a state of panic the entire holiday season. You need to enjoy yourself and gratitude can help you achieve that.
# 5 - Release negativity through yoga and exercise
Yoga is a great way to release stress as different poses allow you to stretch out the energy throughout your body. As you practice yoga, you will notice your mind will start to calm and your heart rate will slow down, allowing you to breathe easier and reduce your anxiety.
The holidays are meant to be shared and enjoyed with family and friends. Enjoy all of your festivities with these 5 holistic methods and notice a more peaceful holiday season this year.
Be happy, be healthy, be well
