Making things simple during the holidays will keep stress levels low.
It’s such a wonderful time of year—a time for celebrating family, honoring traditions, expressing gratitude, and lifting the spirit. Delights abound, from Christmas carols to hot chocolate, holiday ceremonies, delicious feasts, sparkling lights, and yummy cookies. But, while delightful, for many of us the final quarter of the year is also a busy time, and it’s not uncommon to experience increased anxiety and stress this time of year.
One way to combat the propensity for overwhelm and allow yourself to enjoy the magic of the season is to simplify every area of life you can. Remember, the very best of the season are the simplest of blessings.
Batch Your Work
When you’ve got meals to prepare, gifts to buy, work to get done, phone calls to make, events to plan, travel details to organize, and more, your to-do list can become too overwhelming.One way to make efficient progress is to batch your work. If you’re taking the time to make one phone call, go ahead and make all of the phone calls you have on your list in one sitting. If you’re preparing a meal, prepare multiple meals at once by repurposing ingredients and storing leftovers. If you set aside time to order Christmas presents, order many at once, in a burst of massive action.
Task switching between one task and another can be draining and time consuming. Batching your work makes you more efficient and productive.
Stay Tidy
When we get busy, our physical spaces can quickly become chaotic. Keep mess and clutter at bay by practicing a tidy all the time approach. Don’t leave a room without improving it. When you’re working on a project, clean as you go. Make continuous upkeep the standard throughout the season so things don’t get out of hand.Take Care of the Basics
Make sure you’re caring for and nourishing yourself and your family on a fundamental level. When life gets busy, it becomes even more important to eat wholesome meals, get plenty of sleep every night, take breaks, spend time outdoors, drink water, and stay focused on the highest priorities in life.Renegotiate
When we schedule our time and make commitments, sometimes we’re overly ambitious, especially this time of year. Take a realistic look at your calendar and renegotiate any commitments or obligations that could possibly wait until the new year.Don’t overschedule yourself. Simple nights spent watching holiday movies and baking cookies are important, too.
Streamline
During your day-to-day, you can streamline your habits wherever possible. Consider wearing the same basic outfit every day or you eat the same breakfast each morning. Make your nightly preparation routine simple and effective, and use auto-reply to manage your emails. Streamline any processes and decisions you can to keep things running smoothly.Have Fun
Finally, keep a light heart and don’t forget to have fun. Yes, it’s a busy time, but you can find joy in the big and little things alike. Smile as much as you can. Take part in those activities that you truly enjoy. Don’t be too serious. Have fun!
