The holidays are a time for family, friends, and fun. But if you're a parent, they can also be a time of stress. From buying presents and decorating the house to attending holiday parties and preparing festive meals, the holidays can be demanding. And when you add kids into the mix, things can get even more hectic. But it is possible to have a stress-free holiday season with kids. Here are some tips to help you make it happen.
1. Don't try to do it all.One of the biggest sources of stress during the holidays is trying to do too much. You want to bake cookies, decorate the house, make handmade gifts, go to parties, and still find time to spend with your family. But guess what? You don't have to do it all! Pick one or two things that are most important to you and let the rest go. Your family will still love you—and you'll be a lot less stressed out.
2. Get organized. Another big source of stress during the holidays is being disorganized. You're running around trying to find matching socks, looking for lost gloves, and digging through piles of wrapping paper to find the ribbon. But if you take some time to get organized before the craziness begins, you'll save yourself a lot of headache later on. Put away out-of-season clothes, label everything with your kids' names, and buy extra wrapping supplies so you're always prepared.
3. Keep your cool. It's easy to get frazzled during the holidays. There are so many things to do and so little time to do them in! But if you can keep your cool, everything will be a lot easier—for you and for your kids. Take deep breaths, count to 10, or take a break in another room if things start to feel overwhelming. And if all else fails, pour yourself a glass of eggnog and relax!
4. Set realistic expectations. The holidays aren't always going to be perfect—and that's okay! Your kids will probably fight at least once (or more), someone will spill something on your new sweater, and you might forget an ingredient when you're baking cookies. But if you set realistic expectations ahead of time—things will inevitably go wrong but we'll try our best anyway—you'll be able to roll with the punches when they do.
5. Have fun! Remember why we celebrate the holidays in the first place: because they're fun! So don't forget to take some time for yourself and do things that make you happy too. Whether it's watching your favorite Christmas movie or taking a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood looking at lights, make sure you're enjoying yourself as well as making sure your kids are having fun too!
The holidays are supposed to be a joyful time—but for many parents, they're anything but calm and serene. If you're feeling stressed this holiday season, take a deep breath and follow these tips on how relax and enjoy quality time with your family without going crazy in the process!