Including family time and volunteering,

here are 4 ways to avoid stress this holiday season

For many of us, the holiday season means more activities, get-togethers, and extra time spent with friends and family.  Adding extra activities to an already busy schedule filled with work, family, and volunteer obligations can be challenging during the holiday season.

First, let’s start off with a simple, medical definition of stress. Stress can be defined as a feeling of emotional or physical tension.  The reality is there are a number of factors that can stress us out. Spending the holidays with people who trigger negative emotions, ignoring your budget to buy over-priced gifts, spending the holidays alone, or volunteering so much of your time to different causes that you’re unable to properly rest can all cause stress. But I’d like you to consider a new perspective about volunteering, family time, and/or sharing gifts this season.  Here are 5 ways to do what you love and how to avoid stress while doing it.

Time with family and friends

Who you spend the holiday season with is just as important as how you spend it.  I know you may be used to spending the holidays with specific family and friends because that’s how it’s always been. Many families have established traditions and they religiously repeat them every year. However, there’s nothing wrong with starting something new this year.  Especially if the family and friends you’ve been spending time with are not adding to your joy, you may want to consider spending time with another group of people this year.  There’s also nothing wrong with spending it alone. Imagine waking up when you want to and enjoying an intimate meal while watching your favorite movie in bed. Spending time with others is so good for our health but so are those moments when we get a chance to be alone.

Purchasing gifts

Financial wellness is not often discussed but it should be.  During the holidays, we tend to spend more money than we do all year as consumers. I’m not suggesting that you don’t share a gift with your loved ones but I am suggesting that you adjust how and what you share. Making sure you are financially well during this season can help to reduce stress significantly.  Consider shopping sales, giving DIY gifts, or spending the money on a weekend staycation instead. Avoid falling into unnecessary debt and make this holiday season all about giving with intention.

Volunteering or Donating Goods

If you enjoy volunteering during the holiday season, that’s admirable! The spirit of the season sparks a renewed enthusiasm to give and donate to many different causes. Don’t overwhelm yourself by spreading yourself too thin with time commitments. Instead, choose one charity or cause to support this season.  Besides time, another way to give without stressing is to divide the opportunity to share the love with others. Invite family members, friends, or coworkers to join in on a toy drive or coat drive. This way, you’re giving but you’re not bearing the responsibility of giving where there is a great need. Together, you can all be more impactful and share so much more!

Cook healthier meals

As we approach the new year, there are many of us who are laser-focused on our body weight and body aesthetics. We often stress about how many pounds we’ve gained during the holiday season. It is popular to believe that healthier meals don’t possess the same satisfaction that non-healthy meals possess.  That’s simply not true. Using healthier ingredients makes a huge difference in the nutritional value your meal adds to your body and your life. There are a number of healthy meals that are not only tasty, but are good for you. Eating a tasty meal AND avoiding the stress of guilt? Such a win-win!

At Wilco Wellness, we believe that health is a state of physical, mental, and social well-being. It infuses positive energy into the body, mind, and spirit. The best journey is living to support a complete state of harmony. Time spent with loved ones and volunteering can also be good for your health as they can relieve stress.  Learn how to manage good stress and kick the unwanted stress to the curb.