The holiday season is always a joyful time, but it can also be stressful. Whether you’re feeling pressured to buy and give gifts, worry about money, or plan to host family to celebrate the holiday season, things can feel hectic and overwhelming.

To help manage your stress during the season and to enjoy it a little bit more, we’re sharing our best stress management tips!

Don’t Lose Sight of What Matters

With all the extra pressures of gifting, budgeting, and hosting, it can be easy to lose sight of what matters during the holiday season - spending time with your loved ones. When you’re feeling frustrated or stressed, take a moment to reflect on what the holidays mean.

Take time to compliment someone, take inventory of the good things in your life, and do kind things for those around you.

Accept Imperfection

Are you always looking for ways to make things bigger and better than last year? Instead of getting stressed about being better, focus on accepting imperfections. Go with the flow, acknowledge things might not go as planned, and if it’s not perfect - that’s okay!

Always Respond with Kindness

While we can’t change how those around us act around the holidays, we can always respond with kindness and be compassionate to them. They might be experiencing a hard time, and the way they are acting towards you isn’t personal.

Ask for Help

Whether you’re trying to get your holiday shopping complete or figure out what to cook for a holiday meal, don’t let the stress get to you! When you need help, ask for it. Your loved ones will want to help and be part of the planning process with you. Plus, it’s extra time you can spend together!

ACLS Academy wishes you a Happy Stress-Free Holiday Season!