Kick Stress To The Curb: Five Tips For Parents This Holiday Season
The holiday season can be a magical experience, but let’s face it, it can also be one of the most stressful times of the year. Between the piles of presents, the endless parties, and making sure everything is just right for the kiddos, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
So, if your holiday cheer usually comes with a dose of holiday stress, read on to find out how to unwind and relax this festive season.
Practice Mindfulness
It can be so tempting to say that we don’t have time to take a moment for ourselves. But even just five mindful minutes of sitting quietly enjoying a cup of tea and a delicious vegan cookie can help to calm a hectic mind.
Bonus points if you use this time to practice a quick meditation! Whether it be early in the morning before the littles are awake, or right before bed when the home is quiet, a swift meditation can keep you grounded during the challenging times.
Not only will this help you beat the stress, but you’ll be more present for the kids as you enjoy the festivities with them.
Get The Whole Family Involved
Who’s to say that it’s up to the parents to do all the work during the holidays? Getting the kids involved isn’t just a great family bonding experience, as it can serve as the perfect learning opportunity for the little ones too.
Let the kids help decorate the Christmas tree and inside the house, and get them involved with wrapping presents. You can even recruit the older children to help out with the baking.
This is a great way to teach your children the skills that will come in handy during the holidays, all while making amazing family memories. Parenting win!
Batch Cook
With so much happening around the holidays, who has time to think about cooking healthy meals?
Batch cooking can ensure that the family has a huge supply of wholesome, home-cooked meals and treats available throughout the season. Double the recipe of a stew and freeze half of it — that way, you’ll have food available even during the most hectic of times.
The same can be true of cookies and pies. Make extras and keep some in storage so that when that Christmas Eve cookie decorating sesh comes along, you’ll be more than prepared.
Learn To Say No
We’ve all been there: it’s easy to feel obligated to attend every event that you’re invited to. But do you really need to go to your cousin’s coworker’s daughter’s Christmas dance recital?
We’ve all got a lot going on at this time of year — our calendars could easily be filled up every single day. But we’re all only human, and being too busy can lead to fatigue and unnecessary burnout. So the next time you get asked to go to that one party that you really could skip, why not take a rain check?
The more free time that you have on your schedule, the more opportunity you will have to relax with your loved ones at home.
Schedule Family Time
This one goes hand-in-hand with learning to say no. As tempting as it can be to bring the family to party after party, sometimes having an evening at home can be so much more fun and relaxing.
On your calendar, schedule in a few family nights filled with board games, holiday movies, and lots of vegan winter treats. After all, isn’t that what the holidays are truly about?
A Stress-Free Time
We completely get it — in between the presents, parties, and treats, the holidays can be a tough time. But just by taking a few steps, you can decrease that stress and keep the season fun and enjoyable, not just for you, but for the whole family!
What are your go-to’s for beating holiday stress? Let us know below!
