It’s the most wonderful time of the year —and the most stressful. Holidays are supposed to be joyful, but for many of us, they’re just another source of anxiety and stress. If you find yourself in an anxious holiday state of mind, these tips can help you relax.

1) Give Yourself Permission to be Stressed

Stress is a normal part of life, and it’s not something you should feel bad about or guilty about taking time out of your schedule to relax and recover from. If you’re feeling stressed out, don’t try to hide it from others --it can be helpful for them (and for you) if they know what’s going on with you!

Remember that stress is a normal part of life, not something to be ashamed of.

Stress doesn’t mean you’re weak or defective in any way. Stress happens to everyone, even people who seem like they have it all together.

Stress is not your fault! Stress has been linked with many health problems including heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, and more. However, stress isn’t necessarily bad for everyone; some research suggests that moderate levels of stress can improve performance on tasks by increasing focus and attention span – but only up until a certain point where the benefits are outweighed by the negative effects of chronic stress (like feeling overwhelmed).

2) Take Time for Exercise and Movement

Exercise and movement can help you manage stress. Exercise is a great way to improve your mood, sleep better, and get more energy throughout the day. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by holiday stressors, try adding some daily exercise to your routine. Exercise doesn’t need to be intense or time-consuming – even 10 minutes of walking per day can make a difference!

Exercise has been shown to positively impact mental health in several ways: it releases endorphins that can improve mood; it increases dopamine production which helps with motivation; exercise also boosts serotonin levels which makes us feel happier overall (this effect lasts even after we’ve stopped exercising).

3) Practice Self-care in Small Ways Every Day

Some ideas include:

  • Take a nice bubble bath.

  • Make a cup of tea.

  • Listen to music and dance around your house or sing along if you’re feeling brave!

  • Take a walk-in nature or through your neighborhood. If it’s cold out, bundle up with warm clothes, boots and mittens (or gloves). If it’s hot out, wear sunscreen and sunglasses so you can enjoy the sunshine without getting sunburned or having your eyes hurt by the glare of objects like car windshields and windowsills.

  • Do some yoga in your living room – it doesn’t have to be fancy; just find YouTube videos on YouTube that show how people do different poses so that you know what they look like before trying them yourself! Or use apps like Headspace or Calm where professional meditation coaches guide users through simple exercises designed specifically for relaxation purposes (these apps also come with built-in timers so there’s no need for anyone who uses them regularly to forget what time they started).

4) Don’t Overcommit

  • Set boundaries for yourself. If you’re stressed out and overwhelmed, it can be tempting to say yes to every request that comes your way. This can lead you down a path of overcommitment, adding more stress on top of all the other holiday stressors you’re already dealing with. Instead, set boundaries: decide how much time and energy each person gets from you during the holidays – and stick with those limits!

  • Don’t feel bad about saying no. If someone asks for something from you that isn’t feasible given your current situation (or even just seems like too much), don’t hesitate to say no; just be honest about it so they know where they stand with their request before moving forward together. Don’t feel bad about taking breaks from social media or even from some aspects of “holiday cheer” (like Christmas music). You may want these things right now because they provide comfort and relief from everyday stressors; but remember that these aren’t permanent solutions – they’re just temporary fixes that can make things worse if used too often or without moderation.

5) Have Realistic Expectations

Whether you’re a parent, friend or coworker, this holiday season is likely to present many stressors in your life. Before you can manage your stress levels and avoid burnout, it’s important that you set reasonable goals and expectations for yourself so that they’re achievable and sustainable over time. The key here is balance: don’t try to do everything or be perfect; instead prioritize what’s most important to the people around you (your loved ones), then work from there.

Don’t feel guilty about taking a break from “holiday cheer” sometimes.

It’s okay to take a break from “holiday cheer” sometimes. You can still be festive and enjoy the holidays without being stressed out.

You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room or the one who hosts all your friends for Thanksgiving dinner - that’s not what makes you special! Instead of trying so hard to make everyone happy at once (which will just lead to burnout), focus on being kind towards yourself instead of feeling guilty about taking some time off from being festive during this busy season.

Conclusion

The holidays are a time to celebrate but they can also be stressful. The key is to stay calm and remember that you control your happiness. Take some time every day to practice self-care – even if it’s just five minutes of meditation or stretching – and remember that there is no right way or wrong way to handle stress. You will get through this season and come out stronger for the new year!

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