With the holidays in full effect and the new year just around the corner, the end of the year brings a large mix of emotions for people all across the board. Children and adults alike are under a certain amount of pressure to make the holidays as memorable experience. Especially in the world we live in today, full of technology, and social media that allows us to compare our lives to others at all hours of the day with just the touch of a screen, etc. Our entire society is under immense stress to meet the standards of the season. “Tis the season” comes with a lot more baggage these days than just the stereotypical holiday cheer.

In fact, what does holiday cheer even mean this year? I think we can all agree that if holiday cheer wasn’t overthought so much it could be really genuine, but with the stress of the holidays as the “giving season,” the time to give back, etc. it can sometimes take away from the sincerity of the joy of giving. When surveyed, 38% of people felt an increased amount of stress during the holiday season (McLeanHosptial.org). This being a mix of gift giving, financial pressure, family, meeting expectation (whether they be your own or whomever else), and keeping the holidays as memorable and special for young kids and also adults as possible.  Children have their own amount of stress with the holidays. While their stress might be more superficial it still weighs on kids more than some adults may realize. Kids have roughly a two week break to take off from school and enjoy their holiday with their family. At the end of that break they want to be able to return to their friends and share the fun stories and new presents they received over break. When the kids standards aren’t met it can be a great learning opportunity as they grow up to instead focus on the deeper meaning of the holidays instead of solely the materialistic items they may or may not receive that year.  The reality of the matter is that if we just take away our own stress and standards and focus on the main points of the holidays we can make this time of the year overall more enjoyable and joyous. The holidays are meant to be a time of celebrating the things we have, appreciating the people we surround ourselves with, and living in the present to make maximum amount of memories and soak up every moment at the age were at to someday be able to make those same memories for our children.  Here are some ways to hopefully help you relieve some weigh off your shoulders this holiday season.

1. Be realistic with yourself. The movies do a great job of portraying a perfect fantasy Christmas that we may all dream to have, but we must be realistic. Don’t stress about spending a certain amount of money during the holidays. Everyone is doing their best, and don’t be too hard on yourself if you feel as if you’re not meeting a standard. You set your own standards. Don’t let fantasy put a damper on your holiday spirit, because any Christmas is a good Christmas.
2. Be okay with saying “no.” During the holidays, there’s so much to get done and so much to accomplish that it can be overwhelming with what seems to be a never-ending to-do list. It is okay to say “no.” Nothing will ever be worth your mental health and once you start sacrificing that for other people, that is when you know you are in too deep. The holidays are time for cheer, so if you’re unhappy with your situation or the stress is becoming too much, take a step back, say “no” and be okay with not being busy 24/7.
3. Don’t forget to take time for yourself. Yes, the holidays are time for family, friends, celebrating, being together, etc. No, this does not mean sacrifice your own alone time, individualism, and sanity for the sake of a holiday. If you’re not taking care of yourself there is no way to be fit to care of others. So be sure to take the necessary time for yourself in order to put forth the best, most reasonable, holiday you are willing to allow yourself.
4. Let perfectionism go. Nothing is ever as perfect as it seems. The term, “the grass is always greener on the other side,” has a large sense of truth to it. Make your own sense of perfect with your family, not the social media standardized perfect. What works for your family might not work for another and that is perfectly okay. At the end of the day, if you’re ending the holiday with that warm fuzzy feeling in your heart and healthy family, your holiday was a success and as perfect as it could ever be in the grad scheme of things.
5. Give yourself the credit you deserve. You have done great things this year. Think bigger picture than just the holiday season. You have made it through another year, putting your best foot forward, working hard, and just enjoying what life has in store for you. Give yourself some credit. You did all of that. So heat up the cocoa, pop in some marshmallows, grab a cozy blanket and a wholesome movie and relax. Appreciate yourself and everything you’ve done.

Keep the holidays wholesome, not materialistic. Over the years they have been chalked up to be more way more dramatic than need be. You got this. Let the stress go, enjoy where you are now and the people surrounding you. Christmas is for you and don’t forget that for anything. If you stress too much about it, it will pass you by before you even get to enjoy it. Live in the moment, the love, and the joy.