I love the holidays but they can be a real energy suck! I always look for was to avoid holiday burnout so that I can actually enjoy the holiday season and being with my loved ones. Nobody wants to be stressed, especially this time of year.
With all of the shopping, baking, and holiday parties, it can be a bit much. I always feel drained this time of year because it gets dark earlier and traffic and crowds just make me feel worse.
I have decided that I am going to give myself a break this year and avoid the holiday burnout and stress at all costs. When you realize that things aren’t going to be picture perfect, the holidays become so much more enjoyable.
Here are a few of my favorite ways to avoid holiday burnout. Use them this year to help you stay sane!
I partnered with Saatva on this post. I received product as compensation. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Avoid Holiday Burnout by Planning Ahead
You know those people who wait until the last minute to do everything (you may be one of them) are always so stressed!
- Make it easier on yourself this year by planning ahead for the holidays. Make a list of everything you will need for Thanksgiving and go to the store at least 4 days before Thanksgiving. If you wait to shop the day before, you will have to deal with huge crowds, long lines, and may forget something in all of the commotion.
- For your holiday shopping, use these Black Friday Tips to get prepared and make your list. Knowing what you are getting from which store makes it so much easier and you won’t overspend on items you don’t need.
Use these same tips for shopping on Cyber Monday so you don’t have to even leave the house. I much prefer shopping in my pajamas from the couch instead of dealing with the crowds.
- Wrap gifts as you buy them. Make it easy on yourself by wrapping presents as soon as you get home from shopping instead of waiting a few days before Christmas. It is much easier to handle three or four gifts at a time instead of 30! Plus, you don’t have to worry about hiding them out of sight.
Use Shortcuts in the Kitchen
- If you are expecting a crowd for your Thanksgiving or Christmas Dinners, do it potluck style. Have everyone bring a dessert or side so that you only have to worry about the main course.
- I personally like making these Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Sides because I can space out my cooking. I throw all the sides together in the morning to cook and put the turkey in the oven. Then in the afternoon, all I have to worry about is baking the rolls or getting the dessert done. It’s less stress when things aren’t being prepared all at once.
- Not everything has to be made from scratch. Give yourself a break and buy some pre-made sides like mashed potatoes, rolls, and even dessert from the grocery store.
- Ask for help when you need it. Get your partner involved in the cooking. If the kids are old enough, put them in charge of making dessert. Even the little ones can help clean up and do the dishes as you are cooking to help cut down on the clutter in the kitchen.
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Get a Proper Amount of Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is the optimal way to avoid holiday burnout. You need to place sleep at the top of your holiday to-do list!
- Cut back on your sugar and alcohol intake this time of year. I know that it can be hard with all of the Christmas treats and holiday parties. But they can cause you to wake up continuously at night, making you feel even more tired in the morning.
- Treat yourself this holiday to a great mattress. Sleeping on a mattress that causes your neck and back to ache will only make the holiday season even more unbearable.
I personally love my Zenhaven mattress from Saatva. It’s so comfortable and is a 100% natural latex mattress. Most of the luxury mattresses you find in a store would cost you twice as much as a Zenhaven.
I have my Zenhaven mattress on the Lineal Adjustable Base which makes my sleep so much better. I am seriously in love with this base!
I like to read and take a little time for myself before bed. I can easily raise the head of my bed up into a comfortable position for reading without having to pile up a ton of pillows behind me.
It’s my daughter’s new favorite place to read her stories before bed, too!
The Lineal base also comes with a massage feature to help me drift off to sleep and it has lights underneath the bed!
This is huge for me! I usually wake up once during the night to use the bathroom so now I just turn on these dim lights so that I can easily see where I am going and not bump into things.
It lets me fall back asleep so much easier than if I had turned on my bedside lamp.
Finding the perfect mattress is a must for a good night’s sleep. You can even try out the Zenhaven in your own home for free for 120 days!
Avoid Holiday Burnout with Self Care
This is the time of year to take care of yourself! In addition to getting the proper amount of sleep, do the following to give yourself a break and actually increase your energy:
- Exercise: I know it is hard to fit in a workout but you can easily get in 20 minutes three times a week. This is the minimum amount you should be doing to increase your energy levels. For more help, read these tips for How to Get Healthy when you’re Crazy Busy.
- Go Outside: Stand in the sun for a few minutes to give your body a much needed boost!
- Turn off the News: With the 24 hour news cycle, it can get to be depressing and just too much to handle. It can cause you stress that you just don’t need.
- Treat yourself: Go get a massage, a manicure, or just enjoy a nice relaxing bath. You will greatly reduce the holiday stress when you start giving yourself a break and enjoying a bit of alone time.
- Yoga Poses: Even if you don’t like exercising, yoga can be a great stress reducer and can help your aching body from carrying heavy packages or luggage. Do a quick Google search for poses that help lengthen tight muscles and do them before bed.
Make sure you take proper care of yourself to avoid holiday burnout. I hope you enjoy this holiday season and cherish all of the memories you are making with your family and friends this year.
Remember, it’s OK to say no to all of the parties and holiday engagements. You can’t please everyone, do what is best for you, your health, and your sanity.
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