While the holidays can be filled with magical moments with twinkle lights shining in the background, the holidays can also be filled with so much stress. Isn’t it funny how a time of year where we are supposed to be grateful and enjoy time with loved ones has the potential to be one of the biggest stressors of the year?! What gives?? While I wish I had the answer to that, I don’t. I do however have some tips to beating holiday stress that I am sharing here on A Married Adventure today.

Tips To Beating Holiday Stress

One: Make A List and Check It Twice

• I can’t lie, I’m terrible at keeping my planner updated and actually using it. What actually does work for me, you ask?! Keeping  a list and checking it twice. Anything and everything that I need to do gets written and rewritten in my notebook. I cross if off as I go and add as I need to. I will break my lists up to what needs to be done that day, what needs to be done that week, and what needs to be done that month. It works for me. Nothing is as satisfying as manually crossing off a to-do item on a list.

Two: Keep It Real

• Be realistic with what you expect to get done regarding the holidays. Learn to simplify and make it easy on yourself whenever possible.

Three: Maintain Healthy Habits

• We are only like 10 days into December and I’ve already ate my weight in peppermint bark and had a few too many glasses of wine. Not exactly what I would consider healthy. While I may be overindulging in wine and peppermint bark, I’m making sure to stick with healthy meals. While I don’t have an exercise routine per say, I’m trying to keep consistently working out during the holiday madness.

Four: Don’t Save Everything Until The Last Minute

• I. am. the. queen. of. this. I like to think I can get it all done at the drop of a hat, but I can’t. At least I can’t without being a total stress case. Why do I do this to myself? I wish I knew! I’m starting to learn that planning ahead of time really will save you so much time and stress!

Five: Take Time Out For Yourself 

• This one isn’t just important during the holiday season but is important all year long. How do you expect to do anything for anyone else if you aren’t taking care of yourself?! If you’re like me then this tip on beating holiday stress might just be the hardest one. Taking time out for yourself can be as simple as sipping hot chocolate and reading your favorite holiday magazine.

Six: Soak Up The Magical Moments Of The Holiday Season

• Whether it’s a Christmas tree lighting, drinking champagne around the Christmas tree while listening to your favorite Christmas songs, whatever it is, be present in the moment and enjoy it.

Seven: Set A Budget

• I have finally learned this trick….set a budget for the holidays and stick to it. I set a budget for each of my family members and friends that I’m purchasing presents for so that I don’t let myself go crazy and then wonder where all my money went at the end of December. Next year, I’m going to set a budget for decor too because I quickly realized this year how pricey that can get.

Eight: Learn To Say No

• Sometimes you just can’t do it all, and THAT IS OKAY! You’ll be happier if you say ‘no’ when you need to rather than stretching yourself much too thin to ‘do it all.’

Nine: Wrap Presents Early

• I did this crazy thing last year and it worked….I wrapped presents as I bought them. For me, wrapping presents is overwhelming when I have 20 packages to do. #nothankyou Now, as I buy presents or they arrive in the mail I wrap them right away so I don’t spend hours doing this on Christmas Eve. Also, I’ve even started selecting the gift wrapping options if stores offer it because the wrapping is usually pretty and I’m all about simplifying what I can for myself.

Ten: Keep A Gratitude Journal 

• I mentioned my gratitude journal in my post about gratitude last month. I honestly think keeping a gratitude journal is such a  good stress reliever. When you take the time to sit down at the end of a day and reflect on what you have to be grateful for that day, it just melts away the other stressors you’ve been facing. I highly recommend giving it a try.

I hope you find this post helpful in beating holiday stress if you find yourself feeling little too stressed out! Do y’all get stressed out around the holidays? If you do, how do you deal with it?!