Holiday Cheer: How to Get It All Done With a Smile

The holidays are supposed to be the happiest time of the year. But for many of us it’s an extremely stressful time when our busy schedules are stretched to the brink.

Whether you’re running around shopping, trying to make time for visiting friends and family or attempting to counterbalance your work responsibilities with your familial responsibilities, managing your time can be a challenge. According to the American Psychological Association (APA) 2015 Stress in America report, there are a number of trends that can easily lead to increased anxiety during the holidays.

• Thirteen percent of adults have been diagnosed with anxiety without the added stress of the holidays.

• Sixteen percent of adults have been diagnosed with depression. 

• Family duties are now the third most common source of stress. During the holidays we have more family responsibilities compared to other times in the year. 

• Nearly 40 percent of adults admit to overeating and unhealthy eating in response to stress. 

The holidays are supposed to be about spending quality time with family and friends – activities that shouldn’t be stress inducing. Unfortunately, the pressure to be merry triggers stress. There are two key things you can focus on to make everything else easier and more enjoyable this holiday season: practicing good time management and leveraging technology. 

Sanity Saving Time Management Tips for the Holidays

Trying to square away enough time for all the extra social obligations, buying gifts and decorating the house can seem like a holiday miracle. Fitting everything in often comes down to how you manage your time. 

Start time blocking. If you haven’t tried time blocking now is a great opportunity to test it out. By blocking out your day in small chunks of time you gain more control over your schedule and prioritize your time more effectively. 

Be realistic when you’re scheduling. One of the quickest ways to stress yourself out is to set unrealistic goals. The health experts at the Cleveland Clinic state that asking yourself if you’re being realistic is the first step to reducing holiday stress. Be very conservative with your time and account for everything, even travel time between locations.

Time block time for yourself. Running on all cylinders means you have to take care of yourself physically, mentally and emotionally. During the holidays when you’re being pulled in all different directions the need for “me time” is at an all-time high. Each day block at least 15 minutes of time for yourself to de-stress and relax.

Learn to say no. When the invites are pouring in you may have to make a few tough decisions. Remember, the more you say “yes” the less time you have to relax and avoid holiday burnout. 

Take advantage of the days after Christmas. The holiday cheer doesn’t suddenly disappear at the stroke of midnight on December 26th. If spending the actual holiday with family is a top priority, schedule get-togethers with friends in the week between Christmas and New Years. You can still share the holiday spirit, but you’ll feel much more relaxed. 

Don’t abandon your healthy habits. It’s easy to slip during the holiday season when we’re short on time and decadent food is in abundance. At first you may not feel the effects of unhealthy habits, but after about a week you’ll probably start to feel fatigued and rundown. Continue to get as much sleep as possible each night and eat a balanced diet. 

This year send stress packing and reclaim your happy holidays by mastering time management!