How to Stay Sane for the Holidays

HOW TO STAY SANE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Practicing Self-Care and Reducing Stress

By Taylar Lane

As Fall is rapidly moving into Winter, the relentless onslaught of nearly back-to-back holidays begins: there’s Halloween, Thanksgiving, in addition to other cultural holidays that many of us celebrate, followed by the ultimate “C-word”--Christmas. Rather than anticipating this “holiday block” with excitement, many of us prepare ourselves for this time of year like we’re preparing to go to battle.

Fall 2020 LOUISIANA WOMEN IN BUSINESS

As women, we tend to spread ourselves thin, feeling pressured to meet a list of internal and external demands every day. With the holiday season revolving around the concept of giving, it can be an extra-demanding time.

We keep track of meetings, deadlines, playdates, homework, the grocery list, birthdays, doctors’ appointments, and so much more—the innumerable details of our lives and the lives of those around us. We give our time, energy, and resources to everyone else until it can feel, at the end of the day, like there’s nothing left over to give. Then the holidays roll around again, demanding even more of us than usual.

THE BEST THING WE CAN DO AS BUSY WOMEN IS TO LOSE SOME OF THE SEASONAL STRESS AND (TRY TO) MAINTAIN OUR SANITY THROUGH IT ALL.

One thing that can help is to realize that you don’t have to break the bank or put yourself in a financial pinch to create a happy holiday. The price tag isn’t what makes a gift special. If money is tight this year (and, amid a global pandemic, most of our wallets are likely feeling a little lighter than we’d like), don’t panic. Remind yourself that the key to a meaningful gift is the thought and care you put into it. TRY GETTING CREATIVE!

ARE YOU CRAFTY? Friends and family members are just as likely to enjoy receiving a gift that was lovingly made by hand, as they are one that you purchased. You can find inexpensive materials at your local dollar store. While you’re there, make sure to check out the toys! A small child will get just as excited about the inexpensive toys you’ll find there as they will from the best-sellers at Target (bonus: you won’t have a meltdown if they get damaged or broken right away).

BE ATTENTIVE. Try having a new experience with a loved one; though immaterial, this kind of gift creates memories that last. Perhaps you can perform acts of service for your significant other instead of buying that pricey present. (Maybe the household chores they’ve been meaning to get to but haven’t had the time, for instance.) Or give the invaluable gift of real quality time and your undivided attention—especially when it comes to your children.

The memories that you’re making will last a lifetime. Put your phone away, set aside the cleaning supplies, forget the never-ending to-do list, and allow yourself to focus on truly enjoying the time that you spend together. Take time out of your day to bake cookies, watch movies, run with them outdoors or get down on the living room floor and play. RELAX AND HAVE FUN.

Lastly, and possibly the most challenging thing for women to do is MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO PRACTICE SELF-CARE. We cannot pour endlessly from an empty cup if we don’t stop now and then to refill it. For some, that may be a spa day or a $200 meal at a restaurant. But self-care doesn’t have to cost a thing. Just remember to give yourself a little extra time and attention, too. Maybe that means having the big glass of wine or taking that well-deserved nap on the couch instead of doing the dishes. Perhaps it means locking yourself in the bathroom, sinking into a warm bath and, if only for an hour, letting the world outside the bathroom door melt away. Schedule downtime for yourself between family gatherings, activities, and events and realize that it’s okay to say “no” when you start feeling overwhelmed, even to your relatives. Holidays should be spent with people who make you feel happy, relaxed, and loved, and your mental well-being is just as important as someone else’s feelings.

Practice living in and enjoying the moments as they happen and don’t stress when things don’t necessarily go as planned. Sometimes, it’s the imperfect moments that make the best memories.

LOUISIANA WOMEN IN BUSINESS Fall 2020