Tips to reduce holiday stress

As magical and exciting as the festive period is, it can also be a very stressful time. Thankfully, there are simple strategies you can put into place that can minimize your stress and help keep the holidays enjoyable for all.

Here are some great tips to try when you’re feeling overwhelmed this holiday season.

Get help with the cooking

For many, one of the most memorable parts of any holiday season is the food. That can put a lot of pressure on the cook, especially if it's just you working away in the kitchen. To minimize holiday cooking stress, elicit the help of your partner or children. Get everybody involved, from selecting the recipes to grocery shopping to the actual cooking. Put on some music, assign everyone a task and create a feast together that will be enjoyed together.

Rethink holiday shopping

Holiday gift buying can come with a triple threat of stress. What to buy? Do I have enough time? And of course, there are the bills to be paid afterwards. Start with planning your budget and don’t be afraid to stick to it. For costly items, take the time to do a bit of research to ensure you are getting the best price and confirm return policies. You can also consider simply shopping less. For many, making the effort to spend quality time together is the best gift of all.

Learn how to say no

If you’re somebody who struggles to say no, even when your schedule is packed full, you risk adding additional stress and undermining your own enjoyment of the holiday season. When saying no, try to focus on being respectful. The recipient of your message will appreciate the graciousness of how your message is delivered. When you are able to clearly communicate your boundaries to others, you will find that many people will respect them.