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More than any other time of the year, the holidays place a load of demands on our time and energy — parties, shopping, baking, cleaning, entertaining and spending time with people you may only see once a year. No wonder we feel pressured.
When stress is in beast mode, it's hard to reign it in. This season, try to get ahead of it – especially if the holidays have taken an emotional toll on you in the past.
The American Heart Association suggests these basic tips for managing holiday stress:
Make a list and create a budget for your holiday spending. Then stick to it. It’s one of the best ways to prevent impulse buys that can bust your budget.
Is it your turn to host the family holiday? If so, it’s a big responsibility that might seem overwhelming. Just remember you don’t need to do everything yourself. Why not switch it up this year and let everyone contribute to a potluck dinner? Planning ahead takes some of the stress out of hosting.
Are you hosting this year? Tell us how you plan for the big day.
Originally published 12/2/2015; Revised 2017, 2020, 2022
This was great! Thank you for sending this out! I typically get really depressed since it's the month that my mother died. I am trying to do things differently this year. Thank you BCBBS!