Holiday game plan

Put together a winning playbook to tackle the season without stress

The holidays can add a lot of extras to your plate. Many of those extras are fun – cookie decorating, gift shopping, family get-togethers. But they can also bring increased stress.

If you approach the season with the right game plan, you can score more joy and keep stress on the bench. The experts at MyStressTools — a free suite of wellness resources for MESSA members — have recommendations for managing stress that can easily be worked into the holiday season.

Make checklists. It’s not just Santa who needs to make a list and check it twice. Making a list of everything you need to do and everywhere you have to be ensures that nothing gets lost along the way. And is there a better feeling for a busy person than checking something off their to-do list?

Stop rushing. Running from place to place means you never get to enjoy where you are in the moment. Take stock of what you have to do and be realistic about what you can actually accomplish. Cramming in a cookie baking blitz the hour between drop-off and pickup may not help you feel jolly. Ease up on your commitments when you can so you can enjoy the present.

Practice gratitude. This one should be easy since there are reminders to “Be grateful” everywhere you look these days. It’s the sentiment of the season, but it shouldn’t ring hollow. The simple act of focusing on what you’re grateful for can help reduce stress. Think of three to five things that you’re grateful for and write them down in a journal or share them with the family at dinner time.

Go to bed earlier. It’s tempting to burn the midnight oil when you have a lot to get done, but sleep deprivation can make it hard to get through the next day. If you do it too often, it can take a toll on your mental and physical health. Instead of staying up an hour late to get things done, get up an hour in the morning, with an intentional plan to maximize the use of that time. You’ll be more rested and refreshed, which will make it easier to tackle those lists of things to do.

The fact is that sometimes the holiday season can feel a little chaotic, but it should also be fun. Try some of these tactics for making the most of the time you have to spend with family and friends.

Check out more tips for managing stress from MyStressTools. Simply log into your MyMESSA account and select MyStressTools from the “Resources” menu.