Has the end of the year got you feeling a little burnt out? Don’t worry, you’re definitely not alone! But as the Holiday Season rolls around, it’s important to prioritize some R&R. And what we need is ways to destress.
Because the holidays themselves can be a stressful time! Between the crazy shopping queues, endless social engagements, and seemingly non-stop cooking and cleaning, it can feel like there’s no time to rest and recuperate from a very busy year.
But this is a time that’s meant to recharge us for the New Year! So, how do you find the balance between the fun and festivities of the Holidays, and making time to destress this festive season?
Easy! We’ve got you covered with 10 ways to help you relax and recharge over the holiday season.
Top Ways to Destress
1. Unplug from the tech!
We’re coming in with a big hitter for Number 1! But one of the first steps for relaxing and recharging over the holiday season is to disconnect…from our tech!
Now, I’m not saying you have to go to the extreme here. You don’t have to box up your laptop, throw away your smart phone, and go totally analog this holiday season. (Although, that is just a little bit tempting, am I right?)
But, a great way to really start to unwind this holiday season is to spend less time attached to your devices.
Yes, you probably can’t get away from your tech entirely — you might need to spend some time checking emails, responding to the occasional Slack, or just the usual casual scrolling — but what we’re saying is don’t be attached to your devices 24/7. This is a key way to get relaxation mode activated!
And if going “tech cold turkey” isn’t quite an option, there is a solution! A really effective way to do this is to give yourself a time limit for your tech time over the holidays. Limit yourself to an hour or two a day. And when you hit your quota, put the device away!!
And get onto the rest of our strategies for relaxing and recharging over the holidays.
2. Take a break from social media
Here’s a wild idea…to help you really focus on resting and relaxing this holiday season, take a social media break!
I don’t think we actually realize how much time we spend a day casually scrolling our various social media platforms. And if you don’t believe me, just go take a look at your screen time logs…
Yup! A little shocking, right?!! So if you want to maximize your R&R time these holidays, then it just makes sense to minimize your social media time.
Again, an easy way to do this is to just set time limits. You can actually set limits on the apps themselves to help you stick to your limits.
3. Get some fresh air
We know it’s cold outside (hey, winter – we’re looking at you!) but getting outdoors, enjoying nature and just soaking up some fresh air does wonders to our stress levels.
So, even if it’s just for a few minutes each day, make sure to get some fresh air this holiday season! Bundle up and get out doors.
Take time to take in all the holiday sights and smells. Take in the lights, and take some deep breaths, and feel the year’s stress start to slip away.
Fresh air really does work wonders for the mind and body! So get your fill this holiday season.
4. Exercise
Yes, it’s the holidays! But it’s definitely not the time to slack on the exercise! Exercise can actually help you rest, recharge, and destress!
Exercising helps to increase endorphins (aka happiness hormones) and is super effective in reducing feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Go for regular runs or walks, attend yoga or dance classes, or just make time for the gym. But, because it’s the holidays, why not do some fun holiday exercise? Ice skate, go sledding, or even just shoveling some snow are great ways to enjoy the season and get the blood pumping, filling your body with all those feel-good hormones, and sending the stress away.
5. Eat well
“Duh! It’s the holidays! One thing I don’t have to be told what to do is eat well!”
But that’s not exactly what we mean…
Sure, enjoy all that the holidays have to offer! Drink that cocoa and eggnog, tuck into that Christmas cake, Christmas crack, or Christmas whatever.
But, overall, aim to eat a balanced diet, full of all the good-for-you food. Healthy foods help to fuel your body, giving you the energy to actually be able to enjoy all the holiday fun. But healthy food also gives your body what it needs to help you rest and recharge.
6. Stay hydrated
“Again, I don’t need to be told this twice. Remember that eggnog and cocoa? Consider holiday hydration taken care of!”
But again…that’s not exactly what we’re talking about.
We’re not trying to spoil any fun! But in between all the holiday beverages, don’t neglect some good ol’ H2O!
Water is vital for helping our bodies function at their best. We want to feel rested, not sluggish. So be sure to hit your water quota each day.
7. Spend time with loved ones
Spending quality time with our loved ones is a great way to relax and unwind, especially over the holiday season! Quality time with family and friends helps us feel connected and grounded, which can really help relieve stress and help us recharge.
So make sure you set aside some time over the holidays for your nearest and dearest. Plan some fun holiday activities to add some festive flare to your quality time.
Build and decorate gingerbread houses, make your own decorations, or just spend time doing the things you love to do together. Have some fun with your family and friends and feel those internal batteries recharge!
8. Have a Christmas movie marathon
Ah, there’s nothing quite like a Christmas movie marathon. All the classics – Elf, Home Alone, It’s A Wonderful Life, The Holiday – they never seem to get old!
Not to mention the literal plethora of new Holiday Movies the Holiday Season ushers in! Yes, they’re cheesy. Yes, they’re unrealistic. Yes, they’re predictable.
But that’s part of what makes a great Christmas movie so magical! And getting lost in the magical tales is a great way to unwind and destress. Grab your comfiest, ugliest sweater, pop up some popcorn, plate up all those Holiday treats, and spend some time resting and recharging in the company of some holiday-flavored movies.
Related read: The Best Holiday Podcasts to Listen to this Festive Season
9. Make time for your favorite traditions
The holidays bring with it a wealth of traditions. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, there are probably some traditions that have been passed down through the generations that you’ve grown to love. Or, perhaps you’ve collected or started your own traditions.
But in order to keep the traditions going, you have to make time for them!
Holiday traditions are important because they bring about feelings of connection and comfort. And these then help us feel relaxed, and allow us recharge.
So as you’re preparing for the holiday season, make sure you spend time jotting down all your important holiday traditions. And then create a calendar or a to-do list that you can check off as you have some fun with your holiday traditions.
10. Get enough sleep
Finally, if you want to rest and recharge this holiday season, make sure you get enough sleep. Sounds obvious, right?
Sometimes we forget that sleep is a critical part of our overall health and wellbeing. When we get enough sleep, our bodies and minds can recharge, reset, and be ready to take on whatever the holiday season throws at us.
But it’s not that simple! Because if it were, we all would have been “getting enough sleep” all year round! And it can be even worse over the holidays! There are places to go to, things to do, and general merriment to be had!
So, if you want to come out the other end of the holiday season refreshed and motivated to keep going, you’re going to have prioritize healthy sleep habits. Whether that’s aiming to get a certain amount of hours of sleep each night, or taking a dedicated afternoon snooze, getting enough sleep each night is a key strategy for beating the year-end burnout, and revitalizing ourselves for the year that lies ahead.
To conclude….
It’s been a long year. (I know we say that every year, but it’s true every year!) And more often than not, we reach the Holiday Season feeling burnout, stressed out, and worn out! Wondering how we will ever recoup and recharge enough during the holidays to start it all again come January…
But not this year! Put some of our 10 simple ways to relax and recharge this Holiday Season to the test. We know they’ll help you recharge those batteries and get you feeling well-rested for the New Year!
