Holiday Mayhem
The holidays are upon us once again, which can be both an exciting and exhausting time. There can be a lot of pressure to see everyone, find the right gifts, make time for traditions, and see family members a lot more frequently than we normally would. During this time, it can be good for us to remember to take care of ourselves amidst the chaos we’re enduring, and this can look a lot of different ways:
Self-Care: This can look like stepping away to take a shower, spending time with friends who bring you joy, or watching a favorite holiday movie after the kids are in bed. What matters the most is that after we do something, we feel more relaxed, happy, or ready to take on the next day.
Keeping Routines: These can get lost in the midst of school breaks, visiting family, planning fun activities with kids, and all the other changes that come during this season. If it’s a part of your routine to run in the morning, read before bed, have a pizza and movie night on Friday, or anything else that’s joyful, try to keep these routines whenever it’s feasible! Our bodies and minds enjoy these aspects of routine life and benefit from them, and they can be stress relievers in and of themselves.
Giving Ourselves Grace: We don’t always get it right, and that's ok. Whether it’s burnt cookies, buying the wrong size for your (ever growing) kids, or forgetting to bring something to a potluck, it’s going to be ok. We can’t always get it right, and if we dwell on the small mistakes, it can take away the joy we get from everything else.
Setting Boundaries with Time: It feels good to think that we can do everything and be everywhere, but sometimes that’s not possible! It can be ok to set a boundary of needing to leave an event early, or only staying for a certain amount of hours, in order to take care of yourself and your family. If 12 hours at a family member’s house send your kids (or yourself!) into a meltdown, it might be best to make the most of what time is realistic and end on a high note, not a meltdown.
Having Realistic Expectations: While it can be fun to dream about perfect Christmas mornings and holiday dinners, sometimes the realities of life are a bit more daunting. Sometimes babies cry, or toddlers meltdown from being overstimulated, or we hit more traffic because of an accident on the freeway. Having realistic expectations can help us stay calm when the inevitable challenges strike.
Communicating: If we’re able to communicate our needs to our partner or family, it can increase the chance that others can meet those needs or understand boundaries we set. Sometimes even when we feel overwhelmed, there’s others who are wanting to help us feel more supported.
If we’re able to implement even just a couple of these strategies, it can mean a world of difference for our stress levels and general overwhelm!