5 Easy Ways to Handle Holiday Stress

The holidays are often called the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, but the holidays can easily become the most stressful time of the year as well. There is just so much to get done. Between hosting and attending parties, there’s a lot of shopping and preparation to be done. Add in your normal everyday workload, and suddenly all of it doesn’t seem so manageable anymore, let alone “wonderful”.

Here, we’re going to talk about a few ways to help handle holiday stress, and maybe even enjoy the season a little more than you had thought you would. These are easy-to-implement tips that are meant to send you off on your jolly way.

REFRAME YOUR MINDSET ON HOLIDAYS

Perhaps one of the reasons you feel stressed out about the holidays is because you have been anxious about it for a while. All that built up anxiety may start to peak as the holidays begin and you get worn out by the end of it all.

It could help you to shift your perspective a bit and view the holidays a little differently: look at the holidays as something you get to celebrate instead of something you got to be part of. This simple shift may help the holiday anxiety, along with some of the tips that follow this one.

Take control of the way things are going to go for you during the holidays instead of letting it take over. If it is a major source of anxiety for you, light a Cranberry Cocktail Candle, mix up your favourite cocktail,  and take the time to meditate and create a plan. This plan can include your schedule, budget, outfits, and anything else you feel you may need to prepare so you feel in charge.

CREATE A BUDGET AND STICK TO IT

This almost goes without saying, but it is easy to forget or lose track of the budget when shopping for all the lovely people on our lists. The season is a great opportunity to spoil our loved ones, but we have to be careful about going overboard. Sure, there can be a little wiggle room for flexibility, but it’s going to cause a lot of stress to go significantly over budget. There are other strategies to help to make the most out of your budget (see next tip!) But we have one for you right here: get gift bundles like Fairy Tale Bath Bomb Collection. You save $$$ off your purchase  and you get three huge, fabulous bath bombs in each bundle that you can give to your friends and family. 

GO SHOPPING EARLY (AND STOCK UP WHEN YOU DO!)

This is something you probably try to do every year. And in the years you succeed, you’ll know it definitely helps ease the holiday stress. There are several reasons why shopping earlier will serve you. 

First, shopping off-season could end up saving you a lot of money. There are sales that happen year round. If you see something you think someone you love will like for the holidays, it will be great to snatch it up while there are markdowns. Even better, when a product you love is being sold at a bargain, you can stock up and have a box ready with gift-ables anytime you need it. 

Second, is that it saves you the trouble of the long queues at stores and being around crowds. Being around crowds can be very stressful. The work of dodging people and their carts, having to walk around the stores looking for a particular item could be more stress than its worth.

Even when you go shopping online, shopping early still helps. Due to the volume of packages being sent and delivered during the holidays, it’s inevitably going to be so stressful to wait on delayed packages. 

Save yourself all that hassle with shopping when you shop early!

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SHOP FOR OTHERS LIKE YOU’RE SHOPPING FOR YOURSELF

One of the most stressful things about shopping for gifts during the holiday season is making the decisions about what to buy for the people on your list. The decision fatigue is real! It could help to shop for them as if you are shopping for yourself. Any gift that you would love to receive usually makes a great gift to give as well. 

When shopping for your young nieces, for example, you can go back to when you were their age and choose something you would have wanted as a kid. Perhaps something like the Rainbow Cloud Bath Bomb with its fun explosion of colors could have been something you’d have loved.

When shopping for your mum, the Mistletoe Kiss Candleis a good choice if it takes you back to memories of choosing a tree and decorating it together all those years ago when you still lived together.

When choosing a gift for your bestie, with whom you’ve spent many evenings partying your hearts out, the Tangerine Mimosa Candle is the best way to commemorate your friendship and remember the good times and have fun even when she settles in on Friday night.

Another good way to start going through your shopping list is to go to a website you love like royalessence.com.au , and choose products you’d love to give to yourself. Then choose the person on your list that would love it as much as you do! (Don’t forget to include yourself in your shopping list, too!)

PRIORITISE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

The holiday stress can get to us in many different ways and it’s more important than ever to prioritise our mental health. This could look like setting boundaries with family, friends, and co-workers about the time you spend with them during the holidays. This could be taking a few days off work, so you can focus on enjoying your holiday with your loved ones.

Over-committing time to social obligations during the holidays is a significant stressor. Few things are as stressful as being anywhere you don’t want to be. Some holiday nights could be spent as breather from all these events, and just spend it on your own. Play some soothing jazz Christmas music, make yourself a cup of hot cocoa, and light the Gingerbread Swirl Candle. Spend the evening just recharging through your favourite self-care activities, maybe even bake a few batches of gingerbread cookies (because we’re sure the candle will have you craving them!)

The holidays can be a stressful period, but when following these tips, you can be on top of it and make it enjoyable and meaningful to you. Despite it being giving season, remember to prioritise yourself still. You can only spread love and cheer when you are overflowing with them. Happy Holidays, love!