How to Reduce Holiday Stress and Actually Enjoy the Season

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Holidays can be stressful. Cooking, cleaning, decorations, hosting, traveling, gifting… the list goes on. Your holiday to-do list might be more stressful than your regular day’s.

Holiday stress is real. Many spend their holidays in the grip of stress and anxiety. It just feels like whatever you do is not enough.

The days that are supposed to be enjoyed have become another day of dread.

This post will help you deal with the stress that comes along with the season of holidays, like an annoying, uninvited guest.

1. Set Realistic Expectations

Stop trying to be a superhero.

Cooking, cleaning, planning family trips, holidays, work deadlines, personal end of year review — all while trying to do it without losing your mind and looking Instagram-perfect is a ridiculous feat to achieve.

You might even achieve it but at the cost of your mental health.

What’s the point of doing all this if you are not enjoying the process? It’s not worth it.

So, this holiday season, set realistic expectations.

How much can you do?

Maybe cut down on the over the top decorations — keep it simple this time.

Holiday season doesn’t mean your home should look like a Christmas movie setting.

Look into your elaborate to-do list and see how you can make it realistic.

2. Create a “Bare Minimum” Holiday Plan

Running low on energy this holiday season?

Try doing the bare minimum holiday plan. What is that?

Try to do only 2 or 3 things that are truly meaningful to you.

Like making 2 or 3 dishes instead of cooking a full course traditional meal.

Or hosting only a few close friends and relatives. Let the others know that you are dropping the extended get-togethers this holiday.

Create simple backup plans in case anything goes wrong -bad weather, unexpected emergencies, guest cancellations, or anything else.

Your mental peace comes first before satisfying others. There will always be people who are never going to be satisfied with anything you do.

So take a step back this time if it’s necessary.

3. Budget Like You Mean It

Holiday season = Season of expense.

Holidays can silently drain your wallet — decorations, traveling, gifts, parties, vacations, traveling. It’s punishing in this economy.

You will never realize your spending is spiraling out of your control once the holiday spree sets in.

So, budget like a pro.

Start by creating a realistic, small budget for each category.

Explore budget-friendly options — homemade sweets, DIY gifts, etc.

Financial stress hits harder after the holiday season. So spend wisely.

4. Protect Your Energy

Festivals and holidays can drain your energy.

Noisy gatherings, social overload, and long hours can leave you exhausted — especially if you are an introvert.

This is normal. Many feel the same but hardly anyone talks about it.

Pay attention to the physical signs that show your energy is getting depleted. It could be irritation, fatigue, or headaches.

Acknowledge it. Don’t ignore it.

So, what to do next?

Do simple breathing exercises like the 4-7-8 technique. Or try to be alone for just 5 to 10 minutes.

Instead of trying to push through, do any of these to feel calm.

5. Learn to Say No

Learning to say no is important. It is how you reclaim your space and energy.

It’s okay to skip a party if you have a pile of things to do. You don’t need to join every shopping trip. You can sit out if you aren’t up for it.

Prepare a script in advance so you don’t fumble when the time comes to turn down an invitation.

Something like: “I’d love to, but I’m already committed,” or “I need some downtime today.”

Saying no doesn’t mean you are being rude.

6. Create Moments of Genuine Joy

Holiday season can become mechanical: cook, clean, host, repeat.

Real joy gets stripped away in between anxiously doing all the chores. You barely have time to do your personal things.

Don’t lose yourself amidst preparing for holidays.

Create simple rituals that bring genuine joy. It could be something as simple as enjoying morning coffee on the balcony, listening to your favorite music while decorating, or reading holiday fiction.

Something that pulls you back to yourself.

Make time for personal obligations. Don’t let them go down to the end of your to-do list.

These micro-moments will help you genuinely enjoy the holiday season.

7. Plan for Family Dynamics

Family drama is not going to magically vanish during the holidays.

The awkward interactions, nosy questions, unwelcome criticisms, annoying comparisons — you need to mentally prepare yourself to deal with all this.

Try to avoid hot topics.

Have an escape plan ready to use when conversations start to drain you. It could be helping in the kitchen or needing to attend to other guests. Anything that you are comfortable with and can be used in that situation.

8. Maintain Basic Health Routines

Holiday season can mess up your sleep schedule, food habits, and hydration.

The result: irritability and exhaustion.

It is important that you maintain basic health routines so your mind and body receive the rest they deserve.

What can you do?

Try to sleep and wake up at the same time.
Remember to drink water.
Minimum 10 minutes of movement — walking, stretching, exercise — anything.
Don’t skip meals while running around.

Don’t skip self care.

Self care is never an option. It should always be your priority.

Related Posts:

➡️Want to turn your wellness reflections into real-life rituals?
Do this 30 Day Self Care Challenge. Start any time. Show up for yourself every day.

➡️Craving even more ways to tune into your well-being?
Check out these 75 Self Care Journal Prompts — perfect for days when you need to slow down and show up for you.

9. Allow Yourself to Feel

When you think of the holiday season, what comes to your mind?

Food, decor, gifts, cheerful and happy people taking in and enjoying the festivals, isn’t it?

This isn’t true for everyone. Not everyone experiences holidays the same way.

Some people feel lonely, burnt out, financially pressured. Others might be reminded of the loss of their loved ones. Some might be away from home and missing their family.

It’s okay if you don’t feel festive.

You don’t have to force excitement and be part of the pulsating holiday cheer. Please don’t feel inferior to those who are enjoying the holidays.

Everyone’s story is different. It’s okay if your season of life doesn’t match the energy of the holiday season.

Journaling, talking to a friend, or quiet rituals can help. If required, seeking the help of a therapist might be good too.

10. End the Year with Reflection, Not Self-Criticism

By December/January many people beat themselves up for not doing enough during the year.

Maybe this year was worse than the previous one or you didn’t achieve your New Year’s Resolutions.

That’s okay.

Take some time to review and reflect the year that has gone by rather than taking yourself on a guilt trip.

This will help you identify the mistakes you have made so that you can avoid them in the new year and carry forward the good things you have learned.

Shift the focus from pressure to clarity.

Show yourself compassion. Forgive yourself for missing your goals.

Related Posts:

➡️Want a calm way to wrap up the year? How to do an end of year review will help you with it.

➡️ Need clarity before stepping into the new year? These 21 end of year journal prompts help you reflect, release, and reset your mindset.