5 Tips for a Stress Free Holiday Season

As much as I’ve tried to avoid it in years of Christmas past, I tend to get stressed out as we near the 25th. I get consumed with the idea of getting it all done, many times at the last minute, with little sleep and fleeting patience.

This year, I decided to change that. Covid has put enough of a strain on my mental health and I really wanted the holiday season, to be a time to alleviate tension, unwind and be appreciative that throughout it all, my family and I were able to sustain and still make great strides.

I have been really intentional about using my time wisely, while also relishing in my free time, since I completed my first semester of grad school.

Here are my 5 tips to make your holiday season stress free.

1. Remember the Reason for the Season

The “reason” may differ for everyone but I can assure you, it’s not about the amount of gifts under the tree. Take this time to celebrate your faith and family. I mean we have been quarantined with our loved ones for countless months but we survived it. It’s a celebration bitches! Sorry, I got way too excited but it’s a celebration nonetheless! 9 months of our closest loved ones, in our face, all the time and we didn’t kill anyone! (If you did kill someone, this point isn’t for you, kindly proceed to #2.) The bottom line is, our families have been our foundation throughout all of this. Make this holiday extra special because of that.

2. Plan Accordingly

All of my Christmas shopping is done. I’ve have plenty of days to order online and give my husband anxiety about all of the packages arriving for me  friends and family. Get your list conquered as quickly as possible. The last thing you want to deal with is holiday crowds with that hot mask on, around those, how do you say? Oh yeah, people! Ewww. Not eww like yuck because they’re humans but oh yeah humans, germs, yuck. You don’t want that. Shop online and if you have to get out there, do it now! Time is fleeting.

3. Ensure Your Elders are Zoom Ready

I don’t know if y’all are congregating with large family gatherings.  I’m hoping no because well, Covid but if you are, reduce your stress and blood pressure by making sure that the elders are fully knowledgeable and equipped to join the virtual gathering. This was not initially a point that I was going to make in this blog post but the sheer thought of some of the elders and the technical difficulties that ensue when they have to use technology, is enough to give me a headache. We are trying to destress and woosah this holiday season and I can guarantee that if you don’t hit this point right here, the rest will be in vain. Make sure the WiFi is on and connected and they know how to click the link. Show them how to mute and unmute or they’ll just be talking about everything, everybody and your auntie’s funny looking potato salad. Do yourself a favor, get your elders virtually ready.

4. Get Those Gifts Prepared

As gifts have been purchased, I’ve been wrapping. I don’t want to be up on the night before Christmas, feverishly wrapping gifts. Wrap a few gifts per day and immediately take them to the post office, when you can, if they need to be shipped. That post office line, will be ridiculous, at all times, so be prepared to wait. If you need holiday stamps though, you can buy those at Walgreens’s or a local pharmacy or grocery store with little to no wait. I was yesterday years old when I discovered that, so hopefully it’ll be a gem for others.

5. Give Yourself Grace

As always my writing and my temperament are lighthearted. However, with all seriousness, I’d like to leave you with this last and most important  tip. There are things that you may not be able to do this year, that are traditions or just your usual festive M.O. There may be items that you’re not able to get for your loved ones due to financial strain or uncertainty. I’m here to tell you, it’s ok to skip it and not give yourself grief about it. Here’s to hoping that 2021 will be a year of bigger and better but in the meantime, don’t beat yourself up for not being able to do “the usual” in 2020.
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I’m hoping these tips will lead the way to your enjoyable, stress free holiday. Onward and upward to 2021!