7 Simple Ways to Avoid Holiday Burnout This Season
For many, Christmas is not only the time to have fun and enjoy holiday get-togethers but also loads of tasks on the to-do list, hectic shopping, and holiday errands. In this article, we will explain how to reduce holiday stress and start the new year recharged and energized.
Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, and also a super stressful one. We buy gifts and Christmas décor, meet with family and friends, attend workplace parties, and reflect on the past year. At the same time, routine work tasks and family commitments don’t go anywhere, so things seem to pile up.
If the holiday season overwhelms you, keep reading for our top 7 recommendations on how to avoid holiday burnout and keep the Christmas spirit alive.
What is Christmas burnout?
Festive burnout is the state of being physically and mentally exhausted during the Christmas holidays. People have too much to do before the holidays, combining year-end duties at work, family obligations, party planning, buying and sending gifts, grocery shopping, decoration, and many more. As a result, as Christmas approaches, you might feel overwhelmed and empty inside and not excited by the holidays at all.
Many adults feel exhausted and burned out before Christmas. However, with proper planning and the right mindset, you can improve your well-being and restore your energy. Here's how you can do it.
How to avoid holiday burnout
Choose your priorities
Chances are, you have great plans for the holidays. You might want to decorate your house, invite your sister-in-law with her family over, attend parties, and have enough rest. Yet, not all our plans are realistic. The secret is to set boundaries during holidays, identify your priorities, and let go of the rest without worrying too much.
For example, you really want to send handwritten cards to all your family members and close friends. You also plan to buy new board games because your guests traditionally play them on holidays. On the other hand, you don’t enjoy cooking and decorating the place. So, you might ask someone else to take care of the dinner or ask your friends to bring snacks. By not spending time on things that aren’t your top priority, you’ll save time and energy on activities that matter.
Start preparing early
Last-minute shopping and hustled party preparations can stress out everyone. To reduce pressure, start your preparations months in advance. Thus, you can carefully plan all activities like buying gifts, decorating your house, cooking, inviting your family, and more.
For a structured approach to holiday planning, use to-do lists. When you have everything at hand, you can pace yourself and prepare for the holiday without fuss. It will help you reduce the stress levels significantly, as you’ll avoid holiday crowds, last-minute shopping, and the overall feeling of a rush.
Schedule time for self-care
During holidays, it’s natural that you want to meet all your friends, attend parties and events, and have fun. Yet, if you don’t have a spare minute for yourself and your holidays are too busy, chances are that you will start the new year exhausted.
When making holiday plans, schedule some time for yourself. Do the activities that recharge your balance, for example, practice yoga, do relaxation exercises, meditate, read, or create plans for the next year. Taking the time to clear your mind and take care of your body will help you have a good rest and stay productive in the new year.
Simple Christmas self-care ideas
- Take a bath with a scented bath bomb
- Walk in the snow
- Watch your favorite Christmas comfort movie
- Write a gratitude list
- Take a break from your phone
- Make a holiday-inspired dinner
- Send Christmas cards to family and friends
Gain control over your emotions
Christmas is the time for emotional highs and lows, and sometimes your mood might swing instantly. At one point, you are super excited to meet with your best friend from college. Next, you feel instant frustration because you only did one-third of what you have planned for 2024 and you can’t seem to find a nice outfit for the office Christmas party within budget. Or, you might simply feel too exhausted to take care of the party preparations and errands.
During holidays, many situations may trigger you, so it’s important to control your emotional state. Don’t let your negative emotions take over and reflect on your family or close friends.
Popular books about understanding and managing your emotions
- “Master Your Emotions” by Thibaut Meurisse
- “Emotional Intelligence” by Gill Hasson
- “The Mental Toughness Handbook” by Damon Zahariades
- “Highly Sensitive” by Linda Hill
Don’t hesitate to delegate
Handling holiday preparations on your own is tough, so don’t be shy to delegate some of the responsibilities to your family or guests. For example, your spouse can wrap gifts and sign cards as you shop for groceries online or clean the living room. If cooking everything on your own sounds overwhelming, organize a potluck or ask guests to bring snacks and sweets. If your two kids want your attention every minute, consider a babysitter so that you can focus on holiday preparation.
By delegating tasks, you can reduce pressure and can take care of errands without feeling exhausted. Plus, preparing for the holidays together will bring the family closer.
Exchange gifts smart
One of the biggest holiday stressors is choosing gifts for your family, friends, and coworkers. Things get tougher if you don’t know exactly what the person wants. To eliminate the stress of choosing gifts and save money, organize the Secret Santa game this Christmas.
If you don’t know how it works, here are a few rules. Each participant buys one present to another player, and names are assigned randomly. On the Christmas day, players unwrap their present and guess who gave it to them.
If you play Secret Santa online, there is an option to add wishlists and share gift preferences, so you can simply buy what the other person wants. Plus, you can set exceptions for couples and chat with your giftee anonymously. In our MySanta app, you can organize games with coworkers, family, and even friends who live far away and keep the Christmas spirit alive.
Prioritize healthy sleep
Many of us have a lot of things to do during holidays. Plus, you probably have many events, activities, and parties planned as you don’t want to miss a thing. However, don’t sacrifice your sleep. If you don’t sleep well, it will result in fatigue and low energy. Try to maintain a consistent sleep and wake schedule during holidays. It will help you stay energized for all the fun activities you’ve planned. Plus, healthy sleep during days off will help you recover from physical strain and mental stress, and start the new year productively.
To stay energized and have fun during the holiday season, give up on the idea that you must organize a perfect Christmas party and participate in as many activities as possible. While staying active is important, prioritize things like self-care, family time, and relaxation to avoid stress and burnout and start the year on a good note.
FAQ’s
What are quick relaxation techniques for holiday stress relief?
To relieve stress when you're feeling overwhelmed, use quick relaxation techniques. Focus on your breath with a few slow, deep inhales and exhales, or take a short walk outdoors to get some fresh air. A simple mindfulness exercise, like noticing five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear, two you can smell, and one you can taste, can also bring you back to the present moment and help you instantly feel better.
What are the best ways to simplify holiday planning?
Start by creating a clear budget and sticking to it, which will limit overspending and shopping stress. Create lists for everything, from gifts to party menus and to-do tasks before holidays. Shop online when possible to avoid crowds, and consider a potluck dinner, asking friends to bring a dish. Finally, don't be afraid to say "no" to activities and invitations to focus on what really matters for you.
How can I balance work and holiday preparation?
Schedule dedicated time slots for both work and holiday tasks, making sure not to let one completely overtake the other. Utilize breaks and lunch times at work to tackle small holiday tasks like online gift shopping or writing cards. Avoid trying to do everything at once and focus on one or two tasks each day to feel a sense of accomplishment.
