The holidays are about relaxing by the fire without a care in the world, right? That’s not the case, according to American Psychological Association’s Stress in America study. It found that 75% of Americans report money as a significant source of stress, and 8 out of 10 Americans anticipate stress during the holidays.
During the holidays, the reality is many of us are racking up more credit card debt on expensive gifts, over indulging in calorie-packed holiday foods and investing more money in the latest looks for a slew of holiday parties. Make your holidays less stressful this year with a few small changes. When it comes to managing holiday stress, our four tips below can take you far.
Start by setting expectations for you and your family. If everyone is on the same page in terms of finances, gift giving, and extras you’ll have a better outcome. Be transparent with your children, there is no shame in doing what’s right for your family.
Stay positive, and allow yourself to appreciate the small things like spending quality time with family and friends, indulging in your favorite dessert or watching a classic holiday film.
Focus on what is important in life. It’s not necessarily about the gifts but rather making memories with the ones you love.
Try not to neglect your health over the holidays, or you could start the New Year with regret and unhappiness. Plus, a good workout will help de-stress you during a stressful time of the year. If you’re not a fan of working out but you want to get in shape, take a peek at ten of our favorite creative workouts.
Start by setting expectations for you and your family. If everyone is on the same page in terms of finances, gift giving, and extras you’ll have a better outcome. Be transparent with your children, there is no shame in doing what’s right for your family.