One Way to Manage Holiday Stress

Hello again! The holidays are fast approaching, and for many people this means lots of feelings for lots of reasons. One thing I hear people say this time of year is how chaotic it is, which causes them to dread it, rather than enjoy it.

It is easy to lose sight of what is important and feel like we have to do "all of the things". I keep Cecilia Tran's quote "Self-care means giving yourself permission to pause" in mind during these times as a reminder that slowing down is ok.

One thing I often talk with people about is boundaries. How to make them and how to keep them. Boundaries are especially important for me this time of year to keep me from feeling guilty when I say no to people or activities, and to allow myself to enjoy the things I say yes to.

Boundaries don't mean that we don't care about others; boundaries mean that we care about ourselves. And it is healthy to prioritize what is most important to you.

Boundaries can look like saying "no" to another bake sale, or saying "yes" to a night in with those you love to relax. Boundaries can look like sticking to your plan of going to three holiday parties for 2 hours each, or saying "not this year" to a gathering that causes you more stress than enjoyment. Boundaries can also mean asking for help when we've stretched ourselves too thin or aren't comfortable with a situation.

But boundaries can also be flexible, so if you find yourself enjoying something and want to put more energy into that activity, then do it! Just remember that it might cause you to re-balance some of your other activities.

Here are some ways we know we are setting healthy boundaries in every day life, but I think they are also applicable to setting boundaries during stressful times-

Saying “no” without guilt
Taking care of yourself
Saying “yes” because you want to, not out of obligation or to please others
Taking responsibility for your own happiness
Not feeling responsible for other’s happiness
Being in tune with your own feelings

I hope this holiday season can feel a little less tense with some intentional boundaries set.

Thanks for reading and being in connection with me,

Steph