6 Stress Buster Tips to Enjoy a Peaceful Holiday Season

The holiday season is a wonderful time filled with joy and special moments, but it can also bring some anxiety. Juggling plans, shopping and family dynamics can sometimes feel overwhelming.

Here are some research based tips for managing your own anxiety and communicating more effectively, With awareness and investing some thought into your self-care, you can improve your mood, keep things peaceful and truly enjoy all the magic this season has to offer.

1. Set Boundaries to Protect Your Energy

One of the most accessible ways for you to reduce stress during the holiday season is to analyze and define your own personal boundaries around issues that drain your energy. Just give this some thought, making a short list of what made you stressed or uncomfortable during past holdiday seasons. For example, if you know you tire after 4 hours of hosting, The Emily Post Institute says that it is acceptable to put a time limit on your invitation. If you need help with meal preparation for a dinner party, it is acceptable to ask others to bring a side dish to help out.

Sometimes it can be difficult to express your limits, as you might think it will offend others. But as you can see, today's etiquette rules allow for askign for help. Opening up discussions around gift-giving, meal preparation and the number of festive events to attend is usually welcomed, as long as it done in a friendly and helpful manner.

2. How to Communicate Gently

Setting boundaries doesn’t mean being harsh or rude. You can express your limits with kindness and respect. Here are three gentle sentences to convey your boundaries:

To help with communication, it's always best to keep in mind the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) communication goals of allowing both parties to maintain their self-respect: that is, yourself and the other person. And adding in light humor also helps!

A short version of DBT communication principles is to remember the acronym GIVE.

• Gentle: Be kind, avoid attacking, threatening, or belittling.

• Interested: Show genuine interest by listening, making eye contact, and not interrupting.

• Validate: Show you understand the other person's perspective, even if you disagree.

• Easy manner: Use relaxed body language and a calm tone.

3. Avoid Politics at the Holiday Table

Politics can be a major source of tension at holiday dinners. To keep the atmosphere relaxing, might address the elephant in the room early on. By stating this in a warm and humorous way, you create a happy space where guests can enjoy each other’s company without conflict. You might say:

• I’m all about soaking up quality time together; distractions off, hearts open, making our moments peaceful and bright.

  
  

• When we chat, let's put out warm vibes and happy memories - let’s keep the holiday spirit light and merry!

• How about we stick to topics that won't make anyone want to hide under the table, so let's steer clear of politics tonight and keep things as breezy as a summer picnic!

  
  

4. Practice Mindfulness to Stay Present

Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment without judgment. During the holidays, it’s easy to get caught up in worries about what’s next or regrets about what didn’t go as planned. Mindfulness helps you stay grounded and calm.

Try simple mindfulness techniques such as:

• Taking deep, slow breaths when you feel overwhelmed.

• Noticing the sights, sounds, and smells around you during the celebration.

• Pausing before responding to stressful situations to choose your words thoughtfully.

  
  

Mindfulness can reduce stress and improve emotional well-being. Even a few minutes of mindful breathing can help you reset and enjoy the moment.

5. Plan Ahead but Forget Perfection! Manage Anxiety!

Planning is essential for a smooth holiday, but being rigid about what you think should happen adds pressure. Prepare what you can in advance, such as cleaning, shopping, and cooking some dishes, to avoid last-minute stress.

At the same time, anxiety can pop up and swamp you as you go about your busy preparations. You can use the DBT STOP skill to manage your emotions, your anxiety.

• STOP: When you notice you are getting buzzed with anxiety, stop what you are doing. Breathe.

• TAKE: Take a mental and if need be, a physical step back. Breathe, let your body phsyiology slow down

• OBSERVE: Observe what is happening externally in the situation, and internally in your body. Reframe, re-assess. Breathe. Walk around if you need to.

• PROCEED MINDFULLY: Re-evaluate the situation, gather your thoughts and feelings, reframe the perceived threats. Breathe, and proceed mindfully.

Stopping and stepping back from a situation is a skill that helps you manage your emotions. Allowing yourself the gift of stepping back, gives you to room for adaptive and flexibilie behavior. If something doesn’t go as planned, remind yourself that the goal is connection and joy, not perfection. Being adaptable helps you reduce stress and respond calmly to unexpected changes.

6. Prioritize Self-Care During the Holidays

Taking care of yourself is not selfish; it’s necessary to maintain your energy and mood. When you neglect your needs, stress builds up and affects your ability to enjoy the season.

Make self-care a priority by:

• Getting enough sleep, even if it means saying no to late-night events.

• Eating nourishing meals and staying hydrated.

• Taking breaks to relax, whether through reading, a walk, or a favorite hobby.

• Asking for help when you need it instead of doing everything alone.

  
  

When you care for yourself, you model healthy habits for your family and create a more positive holiday experience for everyone.

The holiday season can be joyful without being stressful. By setting boundaries, communicating skillfully, practicing mindfulness, managing anxiety, planning wisely, and prioritizing self-care, you reduce stress and allow for meaningful connections. Remember, your well-being matters as much as your guests’. Start with one or two of these strategies this year and notice how your holidays become more peaceful and enjoyable.