Holidays: it’s one of the times of every year when an introvert often feels more drained, in particular if without a plan or some useful tips.Between the last minute shopping, the gift-wrapping, the planning and the cooking, the week of Christmas can get insanely stressful.
Between the last minute shopping, the gift-wrapping, the planning and the cooking, the week of Christmas can get insanely stressful.
The holidays are supposed to be a joyous time for families.
Here are some tips to help you stress less during Christmas week and enjoy the holiday to the fullest.
And so you can cheerfully say: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Introvert Easy Self-Care to Stress Less Over Holidays
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• Keep meals as simple as possible.
Using a meal plan and preparing ingredients ahead of time can help you keep meals healthy with less stress. But if things are getting too hectic to cook, remember that tossing a frozen pizza in the oven one night, or having leftovers, won’t cause irreparable harm.
I have been known to use the holidays as an excuse for more “date nights.” It works for both of us!
• Keep plenty of healthy snacks on hand.
If you have kids, this will help eliminate worries about them getting the nutrition they need each day. My daughter-in-law always has traditional grab-and-go options available to include seedless grapes, baby carrots, trail mix, and crackers.The operative word is healthy.
The operative word is healthy.
• Enlist some help from others.
If you have teens, ask them to take over cooking duties from time to time, and give younger kids step-by-step instructions for making one dish while you work on another. I’ve noticed with my granddaughters that even preschoolers can be surprisingly helpful – ask them to fetch ingredients and help with the measuring. A real challenge is
If you have teens, ask them to take over cooking duties from time to time, and give younger kids step-by-step instructions for making one dish while you work on another. I’ve noticed with my granddaughters that even preschoolers can be surprisingly helpful – ask them to fetch ingredients and help with the measuring.
A real challenge can be getting help from the husband! But being married for as long as we have been, this is something of the past.
Anyone have a tip or two for that person? Other than waiting 30 to 40 years?
I do: Years ago, after one holiday meal we celebrated at our home with friends, I asked my husband if he could take over in the kitchen
clean-up. All these years later, now he does this every night.
• Keep your to-do list doable.
It’s far too easy to overscheduled around Christmastime. Planning ahead is key. And we introverts are naturals with this.
Sit down and make a list of everything that needs to be done by the 25th before it gets here, and then spread it out. That way you won’t be rushing around at the last minute.
• Make time for yourself.
Schedule some time for exercise each day, and be sure you have at least a half hour or so just to relax in the evening.
By making sure your needs get met, you’ll be better able to attend to everyone else’s.
Introverts without self-care during the holidays might feel like they are dragging a safe through the sand.
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And be certain you have on your calendar, January 2nd, Introvert Day!
• Be prepared for the unexpected.
Not everything will go as planned, so it’s important to be flexible.
Simple measures such as tidying up a guest room and keeping extra food on hand for unexpected guests can save you some worries.
And most of all, remember you don’t have to be a superhero. Someone in one of my workshops remarked to me, “Remember the memories you’ll have with your family even though you are flying across country to be with them, will outlive any memories of your traveling there.”
The best memories you’ll create at Christmas are the ones you truly enjoy. So plan to enjoy being with your family and friends in ways that work for the introvert in you during the holidays.
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Originally posted December 20, 2012, as Stress Less During Christmas Week
That’s what it is Susan, freeing yourself to be able to ENJOY the present MOMENTS because that is what is about. Thanks!
Pat — very good advice which I wish I followed this holiday season. Too much entertaining and too many commitments. I’ve already decided what I’m eliminating next year.
Awesome advise. It’s not easy to always follow, but it certainly helps reduce the anxiety of trying to be perfect at Holiday time. I made a conscience decisions to do many of these things and it has really helped me enjoy my family and be in the present moment. 🙂
Jeanette, sounds like a New Years resolution in the making! Thanks.
Thanks Patricia…Isn’t it sad that the most beautiful time of the year can be the most stressful as well? Where have we gone? What happened to family get togethers, games, popcorn, fresh baked cookies and going door to door to sing Christmas carols. Sad…
I agree with your thoughts…keeping it simple is a very smart way to keep the stress meter from getting pegged. Have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year…
I cannot think of a single holiday in my life where I have more memories of family and love than this time of year. So delighted you also find that keeping it simple can help you have the BEST of a holiday. Thanks.
I agree. It can be difficult to do, but a list of helpful tips like this really helps. 🙂
Thanks Geek Girl. I think we can all use a helpful tip here and there.
FANTASTIC compilation of ideas. I particularly like “enlisting the help of others.” I hope that parents will not feel sorry for their kids after they’ve just finished turning in projects and taking tests. Vacation time is a great time to do chores and help out parents! Also like keeping snacks on hand. Trail mix is a favorite at our house. Fruit too! Enjoy your holidays Patricia. I look forward to reading your excellent blogs in 2013!
Keyuri, thank you for your comments – coming from a parenting authority like yourself, that means a lot. Merry Christmas!
I think these are great tips for everyone going through a busy time. We all go through periods when life gets away from us. It is so important to ask for help. I love that you got your husband to clean the kitchen. When I first moved in with my husband, he would never help clean. He finally asked me how he was supposed to help once I commented that I was doing all the work. I made him clean the bathroom and that is the one thing that he does to this day. I’ll take it!
Thanks Erica, for that wonderful success story of getting help from your hubby!
Great suggestions that apply to all of us. To stress ourselves too much is a bad idea. Already when I was young and living in Spain I decided that I was not going to be socializing every evening, It’s too much and I did not enjoy it when I was over doing it.
Thanks Catarina. I don’t know how my husband and I survived some of the holiday seasons we did in our 30s! I can remember one year a full week of at least 1 party a night. I’m right with you about over doing it.
Christmas can be a stressful and high energy time, not great for us introverts!
I agree that one should allow room for flexibility. Our plans will not always run to schedule – this is life. Letting go is something I am still learning. It is an ongoing process.
Thanks Phoenicia. I think some of us, introvert and extrovert alike can OVER plan. And It agree, letting go is an ongoing process.
Hi, thanks for sharing a very informative and helpful post. This is very timely since my friend needs some great advice like this one for his son. I’ll be sharing this with her. Great read.
Thanks Sherrill. And sharing is excellent! I figure out most of us either are or know of someone who is stressed out this time of year.
Great suggestions… keeping it simple the simplest, of course. I’m finding that to be true for most areas of my life these days… Happy New Year my friend. Wishing all things good for you in this coming year:)
Simple. Now that word could be a guiding one word for the new year Jacqueline. I “simplified” by not making resolutions years ago. Nor do I set goals at the beginning of each year. I have goals yes, but I find either mantras, intentions or a guiding one word to be more encouraging. Happy New Year to you Jacqueline! I love being your friend.
Great tips for a stress free holiday. I like to make meals in my Slow cooker so if I get busy, I know I have a meal for dinner. 🙂
Sabrina, and I think you are onto something with a slow cooker. Yep; slow often means less stress! Happy New Year to you.
Flexibility: the key to stress management. It’s too bad that the more stressed we get, the less flexible we seem to be. Find something to laugh about. Laughter is a great stress buster.
That inverse relationship with stress and being flexible IS so odd isn’t it Beth. Maybe we forget – under stress!
As for me the holidays are less stressful.
I do not celebrate with co-workers at a holiday party, etc., so I am not forced to be in a crowd.
As for my Christmas, it is spent with my relatives, so I know them already. I will admit, when I have a nephew or niece bring their date, or new wife or husband, my anxiety does kick in.
Thanks for sharing this with us.