Cooking, cleaning, baking, shopping! All the ingredients for a holiday melt down! Aren’t we supposed to be relaxing by the fire with a mug of hot chocolate and a tree full of twinkle lights and candy canes? Sometimes our visions of what “should be” collide with “what-the-heck-just-happened?” It can all make this time of year rather stressful. Maybe it’s time to take a not-so-serious approach and just try to enjoy the days ahead.
How to Avoid Holiday Stress
Get real
The first step in avoiding holiday stress is to be realistic about your expectations. This can be hard to do, especially if you are a dyed-in-the-wool Martha Stewart fan, like me. I can recall one holiday several years ago where I had envisioned the perfect dinner, complete with turkey, all the sides and beautiful, handmade Martha-worthy placemats. Unfortunately, that turned out to be the same day that my husband flooded our kitchen and basement while defrosting the turkey. We were still able to enjoy our meal later that day, however, the ambience wasn’t quite what I had planned. My handmade placemats fell victim to the early morning flood, and we all had to yell over dinner as several large box fans droned loudly in the next room. Remember that disasters are very likely to happen, especially around the holidays! I recommend keeping your expectations low so that you won’t be disappointed!
Company is coming
They say that togetherness is one of the most treasured aspects of the holiday season. Poems and songs have been written just for this special time. I tend to think a little more like author Garrison Keillor who said, “A lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.” No matter what holiday you choose to celebrate, it will most likely involve a thunderstorm of guests in your home. This typically means extra cooking and cleaning on your part. One helpful, holiday tip I have found is to clear the dinner table and set all the dishes on the floor for the dogs to lick clean. Then, while everyone is watching, neatly stack the dishes back in the cupboard. Sure, this approach might seem a bit tacky, especially during the holidays, but you will be surprised at how quickly your guests volunteer to do the dishes next time around. It is one the best ways I have found to avoid the stress of holiday clean up!
Escape plan
Finding a little time for yourself is a great way to avoid holiday stress. Try to remember, though, that it is considered rude to abruptly leave a family gathering. However, a few strategically planned escapes are highly recommended. This is a great way to avoid stress and can be quite easy to pull off. If you are in your own home, your bedroom is an obvious first choice for a quick getaway, but I can tell you from experience, it is generally the first place they will look for you. The bathroom can be good for a 15-minute break, however, be careful not to stay too long. This WILL raise questions you probably don’t want to answer. My favorite escape is probably the “run-to-the-store” option and can buy you as much as an hour or longer “if there’s traffic.” This can be a tricky move, however, for the inexperienced escapee. The idea here is not to provide too much information to those around you about what you need and where you are going. Be vague, mumble something about cranberries, and leave quickly. A word of caution, if not executed properly, you could find yourself at Walmart with your Aunt Edna in tow for far, far too long.
Play a game
When all else fails, try to have fun and enjoy the holidays despite your visiting relatives. Sometimes it’s fun to just sit back and observe the chaos. Especially if you have already spent a fair amount of time and money on self-help books and YouTube therapy sessions. I recently read about a made-up game called Family Bingo. To play, you will need to prepare a few weeks in advance. Meet up with a couple of trusted friends to craft homemade Bingo cards. Fill in the squares with common phrases you might hear over the holidays. Things like, “So when are we going to see some grandchildren?,” “I thought you joined Weight Watchers?,” and “Uncle Bob is drunk again.” When your family arrives, listen for the phrases, and then mark them off on your card. After the holidays, meet up with your friends to see who had the most squares filled in and then buy lunch for the winner.
Happy holidays
When holiday expectations fall flat and family gatherings go haywire, all is not lost. Know that everyone, everywhere experiences the stress of the holiday season. Perhaps that is why the original line in the song “Deck the Halls” published in 1862, was not “Don we now our gay apparel” but rather, “Fill the mead cup, drain the barrel!” So, relax this holiday season. Don’t take things so seriously. Laugh a little and, if need be, fill the mead cup! Happy holidays!
Photo courtesy Pixabay/Mylene2401
Barbara Bauer is a Georgia-based blogger obsessed with inspiring others in the pursuit of self-development. She enjoys exploring the outdoors, drinking way too much coffee, and speaking with a British accent whenever possible.
View All Posts by Barb Bauer