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The holiday season is meant to bring joy to the world, but sometimes it just puts stress on your mind. It’s no secret that the holidays can be a hectic time of the year, filled with gifts to buy and commitments to maintain. If you’re getting caught up in searching for the best Christmas hampers for work or wrapping up the ideal gifts for relatives, it may seem impossible to take the time to slow down and unwind. However, there are a few things you can do to reclaim the joy of this holiday season. Follow some of these simple tips to relieve stress and allow for more fun this year.
1. Start New Traditions
For many people, the holiday season entails the return of familiar routines, some healthy, some not so much! Traditions are a major part of any holiday season: you might follow the same routine every year, whether it’s how you set up your Christmas tree or how you prepare dinner the night before the holiday.
As fun as these practices can be, they can put a lot on your mind each year. Freshen things up by taking time away from your endless routines and traditions, and instead, try and form new habits. Starting new traditions can help you find more peace and joy in your day-to-day experience of the holiday.
2. Clear Up Your Calendar
The holidays can be hectic. Even in this era of social distancing and limitations on in-person gatherings, it can still be easy to feel overwhelmed by online get-togethers, neighborhood celebrations, and family events.
The more cluttered your calendar is, the more stressed you’ll be. During the holiday season, you deserve some time to yourself to kick your feet up and breathe for a minute. Be sure to clear up your calendar wherever you can so you can minimize stress and maximize holiday joy.
3. Clean Up Your Decorations
We always know Christmas is upon us when we see wreaths decking every door and Christmas trees in every living room. However, it might be a good idea to dial down your decorating this season. Decking every inch of your home with ornaments, stockings, and wreaths will not only take a lot of time to set up, but it will also pose a headache when the time comes to tear it all back down. That’s not to mention all the thought that goes into getting your arrangements set up around the house. Give yourself less to think about and instead focus on simple and sophisticated decorations this year.
4. Give Back
Receiving the perfect gift can put a smile on your face, but on the flip side, giving thoughtful presents to those around you can foster even more joy. Rather than get caught up in social engagements, decorations, and traditions, take some time to give back this holiday season by focusing on what you can do for others. You can even take it a step further and help those in need through charity. Doing so will simplify your season by taking the spotlight away from yourself and placing it on others.
5. Give Simple Gifts
Not every gift has to break the bank. Rather than looking to wow everyone around you with an expensive present, take the time to focus on thoughtful gifts that will mean a lot to the recipient. Sometimes something as “basic” as a framed photograph or a book can be a massive hit.
Take some of the stress out of the holiday season by focusing less on the formality of it all and more on what makes it special in the first place.
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