You recheck your phone and be like, “Why hasn’t this line moved?”
You strain your neck to look over the crowd of shopping carts in front of you. You start drumming your fingers against the cart. It’s been fifteen minutes. “How much slower can this line move?”
Your phone starts to buzz. It’s mom again.
“Hi mom, I’m still at the grocery store.”
“Did you buy the stuffing, the candy canes for the peppermint bark, the frosting for the cookies…?”
“Yes, mom.”
You recheck your grocery list. Check. Check. Check…darn it. You take your cart and move out of the line. Time to go back down Aisle 6 because you forgot the frosting.
Christmas can be a stressful time with the party planning, shopping, and decorating. Your mind is flooded with eight different to-do lists for various Christmas activities and functions.
Sometimes it feels like your brain is swimming through gelatin to get from thought to thought. To make this time of year easier for yourself and everyone around you, let’s find some ways to relax during the Christmas holidays.
Read these fun Christmas activities which are stress relief tips to de-clutter your mind and enjoy the holidays because the holidays are supposed to be fun, right?
1. Enjoy a glass of wine
A small glass of wine will help your brain and muscles relax. Plus, studies show that a glass of red wine helps improve heart health, reduce the risk of cancer, delay memory loss, maintain a healthy weight, and improve dental health.
So pour yourself a glass tonight. Cheers to good health!
2. Plan a date night
It may seem crazy to go on a date when the holidays are near, and you have things to do. But that’s precisely why you need a date night. You need to take some time to relax. Enjoy a meal with your partner.
Take the time to talk and enjoy each other’s company. Remember the holidays aren’t meant to stress you out. The holidays are for enjoying the group of family and friends. So, kick off the holiday season with a date night.
3. Start Meditating
Just five minutes of meditation can do wonders. Meditation calms your mind and helps you focus on yourself. When you’re stressed, your mind is in five different places at once.
These are the moments when you misplace your keys, forget a grocery bag at the checkout line, or drive to the wrong store.
Don’t let this happen by stressing yourself out. Complete a five-minute meditation session to clear your mind.
4. Sit Down and Enjoy a Movie
After a busy day of running around, sit down and enjoy a movie.
Holiday movies are the best so reminisce about old memories and make new memories with all the loved ones in your house. Grab a plate of cookies and tray full of milk.
Make this movie night a family tradition for many years to come.
5. Read a Book
When was the last time you got into bed before midnight?
Well, grab a glass of wine and climb under the covers. Open up the book you’ve been meaning to read and start reading Chapter 1.
Forget about the holidays for a moment and just let your mind drift into the story.
6. Get Your Hair and Nails Done
Get pampered. Go out and get your hair cut, colored, and styled. Then go to a salon and get your nails ready for the holiday season. A metallic mani-pedi will be the perfect accessory for any holiday outfit.
These few hours will relax your tense muscles and keep you on your feet for a while.
7. Get a Massage
When you’re stressed, your muscles tense up. As you go about your day, your muscles will feel stiff and out of place. At this rate, you’ll be burned out before Christmas Eve.
The best solution is to get a massage. An hour away from the holiday shopping frenzy will refresh and rejuvenate you for the upcoming days.
8. Go on a Weekend Getaway
This might sound crazy, possibly insane to some of you. But a weekend getaway is perfect. All the stuff you have to do can get done later.
You need time to yourself, so grab your friends and go to a spa retreat.
After a few days of facials, massages, mud baths, and cleansing springs, you’ll feel more rejuvenated and ready to take on the holidays.
9. Go Hiking
The exercise will release endorphins and help you de-stress. The beautiful view will make you happier and more relaxed since you’re away from the hustle and bustle of stores.
Enjoy the scenery and the light exercise before stepping back into the holiday madness.
10. Play with Your Kids
You’re so busy looking for the perfect Christmas present for them that you forgot to spend time with them. Take a few hours to make Christmas ornaments with them or decorate Christmas cookies together.
These moments with your kids are unique because they won’t be kids forever.
A few hours with your kids will go by quickly because you’re laughing and having fun.You’re supposed to enjoy the holidays so enjoy it.
11. Enjoy a Night Out
You’re not the only one that’s stressed. So take your friends out on the town for a night. All of you deserve a break from all that planning, cooking, baking, and decorating.
Get away for the night and have fun. Drink a few holiday cocktails and dance to bad remixes of holiday music.
12. Get a Full 8 Hours of Sleep
Sleep is important and one of the first things that get tossed aside when we’re stressed. If you’re stressed and not sleeping enough, then you’ll be in a bad mood cause you’re tired. Before long you’ll be burned out and too exhausted to enjoy the holiday season.
Get a full 8 hours of sleep every day starting the day before Christmas Eve. Three full days of rest will prepare you for the long days ahead.
Sometimes the hectic shopping, planning, decorating, cooking, and baking takes the fun out of the holidays. But if you take a few minutes to relax every day then you’ll find the holidays to be more enjoyable and fun. And your to-do list won’t seem so daunting anymore.
End every night with a bath or a glass of wine or even an excellent book to help you unwind. Go out with your friends once a week or plan a weekend getaway amidst the holiday season. You all deserve a break.
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