Three Quality of Lifehacks to Managing Holiday Season Stress

Do you find the holidays stressful? It may be dealing with last minute holiday shopping, meeting end-of-year work obligations, or putting up with zany in-laws. It’s no surprise that December has been named National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month. Stress can impact concentration, motivation and productivity. It can also impact health and wellbeing.

With this in mind, here are three Quality of Lifehacks to help manage holiday season stress.

1. Know the warning signs. The American Psychological Association lists warning signs of stress, such as anxiety, fatigue, headaches, trouble sleeping and upset stomach. If your body tells you that something is wrong, it may be due to stress. Knowing the warning signs of stress can help you proactively manage it.
2. Learn how to relax. During the holiday season, it’s especially important to take time for yourself to relax. WebMD offers several relaxation tips such as meditating, taking to time to breathe, decompressing and more. It’s also important to eat healthy and get enough sleep. If you’re feeling stressed at work, see this three Quality of Lifehacks blog post to relax at work, such as coloring and going for walks.
3. Prioritize your activities. The holidays are full of activities, including family events, office parties, shopping, traveling and more. Do not feel obligated to attend or do everything. Know your limits. Also, do not let the holidays distract from your normal routines, such as exercising, reading or other hobbies.

The holiday season is a time to be jolly. However, if the holidays are causing stress, take action to make sure you can survive the season while still being merry.

Share your tips to manage holiday season stress.