6 Tips for Women to Manage Holiday Stress and Protect Their Energy
6 Tips to Protect Your Energy and Manage Holiday Stress
Welcome to the holiday season!
The holiday season is filled with joy and celebration, but for many women, it’s also a time of mounting pressure and stress. As the end of the year approaches, we often find ourselves juggling endless to-do lists—from Halloween parties to Thanksgiving planning, holiday shopping, and preparing the house for festivities. Unsurprisingly, the season can feel overwhelming, especially when women traditionally take on much holiday preparation. Whether making sure the candy bowl is full for trick-or-treaters or planning Thanksgiving dinner, it’s easy to feel like there’s no time left for yourself. Here are six essential tips to protect your energy and manage the overwhelm during the busy holiday season.
1. Set Realistic Expectations
One of the most significant sources of stress during the holiday season is the expectation to do it all. Women often feel pressured to create the perfect holiday experience, but it’s important to remember that perfection isn’t necessary. Setting realistic expectations for yourself and your family can reduce the burden.
How to Do It: Look at your to-do list and identify tasks that can be simplified or eliminated. Ask yourself if the holiday décor must be Instagram-worthy or if every homemade cookie must be made from scratch. Prioritize what matters most and let go of the rest.
Personal Story: I used to make beautiful and creative holiday cards and realized that as much as I enjoyed it, it became more of a chore. Many wanted them and were impressed but soon tossed them out. So, I dropped that task.
2. Delegate Tasks
Women often take on the lion’s share of holiday preparation, but it doesn’t have to be a solo effort. Delegating tasks to your partner, children, or other family members eases your load and gives everyone a role in the holiday experience.
Give everyone something to do in preparation for the holidays. Don’t do it all.
How to Do It: Divide tasks like grocery shopping, gift wrapping, and house cleaning among family members. You can also ask friends or neighbors for help organizing community events or holiday gatherings. Remember, accepting help is okay—it doesn’t make you any less capable.
Personal Story: I often thought I needed to make everything when I hosted Thanksgiving dinner for the out-of-town family. One year, I ordered most of the items pre-made from the grocery store. It was okay but underwhelming that year. So now I balance it – delegate the foods that can travel well to the family, and then give each person an assigned dish they oversee for the meal on that day. I will provide the space and the supplies/food, but someone else gets to make the mashed potatoes or the stuffing that day.
3. Practice Mindful Time Management
The holidays can be overwhelming when you constantly rush from one event to another. Practicing mindful time management can help you stay organized and prevent burnout. Planning and scheduling downtime allows you to enjoy the season without feeling frazzled.
How to Do It: Create a holiday calendar with all your commitments—parties, family gatherings, and gift shopping. But also schedule time for yourself, whether it’s a relaxing bath or a 10-minute meditation session. Sticking to a routine can help you avoid the last-minute rush and give you the mental space to breathe.
Personal Story: If more than one event happens on the same day or even the same weekend, we have decided to choose one and do not feel obligated to do more than one event. We don’t have specific criteria for saying yes or no, which will vary depending on the invite (family will come first, even if their invite came later). And I need at least five days’ notice to bring something other than a bottle of wine. I don’t need to add another grocery run to the list.
4. Say No When Necessary
The holidays often have a barrage of invitations, requests, and social obligations. While it’s tempting to say yes to everything, this can quickly lead to overwhelm. Learning to say no, or at least to pace yourself, is essential for maintaining your energy.
How to Do It: Be honest about what you can handle. Politely decline invitations to events that don’t bring you joy or fit into your schedule. Remember, you don’t need to attend every holiday party or participate in every cookie exchange. Prioritize the activities that matter most to you.
Personal Story: I participated in a charity gift drive for unhoused children for the past four years. My job was wrapping presents – which I love to do. There have been times when I was asked to stay past my volunteer “shift” but said no because I was exhausted from doing it for the past four hours. I wasn’t leaving them high and dry, and my former self would have said “yes” to be a helping hand. Last week, I decided that I probably would not do it again this year; it just took a lot out of me. However, the event will not happen this year, so I don’t have to consider it.
5. Focus on Self-Care
Amid all the holiday chaos, self-care often falls by the wayside. However, taking time for yourself is essential for maintaining mental and physical health during this busy season. Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s necessary for managing stress and staying energized.
How to Do It: Carve out time for activities that relax and rejuvenate you, whether reading a book, taking a yoga class, or enjoying a quiet cup of tea. Make sleep a priority, as lack of rest can exacerbate stress. Remember, when you care for yourself, you can better care for others.
Personal Story: I still attend my regular fitness classes except for the actual holidays. For example, I will still take my HIIT class on Saturday after Thanksgiving and my yoga class on Sunday between Christmas and New Year’s. I will skip the evening yoga on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, but I will not make excuses for the other days.
Are there alternatives to gift giving?
6. Simplify Gift Giving
The pressure of finding the perfect gift for everyone can be exhausting. Instead of spending hours hunting for the ideal present, consider simplifying your approach to gift-giving. Focus on meaningful rather than extravagant gifts.
How to Do It: Consider giving experiences rather than things. A day at the spa, a cooking class, or even a thoughtful handwritten note can be more meaningful than material gifts. You can also implement a family gift exchange to reduce the number of presents you need to buy.
Personal Story: Historically, I did most of the shopping weeks before the holiday, and my husband was a Christmas Eve shopper. He always got better deals. Today, with mostly adult family members, we rarely exchange gifts since we often buy what we want throughout the year and do not need more “stuff” anyway. We give our son and wife something, but they usually need or want the “big” thing for their house. Our granddaughter puts together her Amazon wish list, which greatly helps, and we know she is getting what she wants. As a member of a wine club, I will always have a bottle of wine to give when appropriate to the situation. No mall or big box store is involved at all.
The holiday season doesn’t have to leave you feeling drained and stressed. Setting realistic expectations, delegating tasks, managing your time mindfully, and focusing on self-care can protect your energy and create a more balanced, enjoyable holiday experience. Remember, letting go of perfection and prioritizing your well-being is okay. The holidays should be a time of joy, not overwhelming, so allow yourself to slow down and savor the moments that matter most.
