5 Tips for Managing Holiday Stress

This post was sponsored by Massage Envy as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. 

5 tips for managing holiday stress; perfect for moms! You’ll love tip #2!

 

Nothing is more important than health.  I know this, because I have been on the other side of health for the last week.  My whole family has.  I’ve heard horror stories of entire families getting a stomach bug at one time, but I had yet to experience it.  Where was that wood to knock on when I needed it?

I now know what it is like to have multiple children throw up on me in a single day and then get sick myself.  I’m not sure if it’s a badge of honor, per se, but a badge nonetheless.

It took a few days, but the Harding clan is starting to resurface, and none too soon.   I’ll be heading  to the gym for the first time in a week today, and my husband is back to work.   It feels good to be getting back to normal.

Sometimes it takes getting really sick to make you appreciate how important every day health is.   It’s one think I’m definitely not taking for granted anytime soon.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed during the holiday season: from fighting other moms in toy store aisles (I’ve only done that once, for the record), to the marathon event of cooking for the holidays, we’re on our feet, we’re overwhelmed.  We’re stressed and our bodies know it.   And the other thing I know?  Stressed people get sick more.  Boo.

So what do we do about it?  Hide under a rock until December 26th?  Nope.  We manage it.  Here are my tips for managing holiday stress:

1) Don’t try to do too much.  If you make a bucket list, keep it short.  Stick to the things that really matter, and skip on the ones that don’t.  Do your kids really need to make homemade ornaments again this year?  Do you really need to come up with 24 different amazing ways to stage your Elf on the Shelf?  No.  No you don’t.

2) Take care of thyself.  Book time for a massage.  Your body is working hard for you these holidays and if you expect it to keep up with you through to the end, you’ve got to take care of it.  I consider a monthly trip to Massage Envy a part of my regular routine.  Like me, Massage Envy believes total body care, where we pause during the daily grind to check-in and tune up, is an integral part of our wellness journey.  Taking care of my aches and pains also helps me at the gym and on my runs.

3) Keep on running.  Or walking.  Or going to the gym.  Or putting on your yoga pants in hopes of going to the gym (hehe).  Just because you (and by you I mean me) eat a pound of cookie dough while baking treats for the teachers doesn’t mean you should just throw in the towel.  We all have good days.  We all have bad days.  Don’t let one bad day get you off track for the rest of the year!

4) Take help when you can.  It’s okay if your spouse takes the kids to get photos with Santa while you wrap presents.  It’s okay if the grandparents take the kids to see Christmas lights while you’re getting a massage(!!).  It’s okay if your kids watch the Charlie Brown Christmas Special with friends instead of you.  Funny thing is… you’ll get another chance next year!

5) Don’t be afraid to say no.  Whether that’s to your children, to the billionth party invitation, or to the PTA that needs another volunteer to bake cookies (note to self: say no to baking cookies next year).

Did I miss anything?  Which of these is most important to you?  How manage holiday stress?

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