You probably have a lot of feelings about the holiday season. Maybe you love Christmas and all that comes with it, or maybe you celebrate Hanukkah and look forward to it every year. No matter what holiday you celebrate or how much you look forward to it, the truth is that the holiday season can be a time of stress and anxiety. Whether you’re throwing your first holiday dinner or your twentieth, there are a few ways to survive the holidays while still having a great time celebrating with your friends and relatives.
Perhaps the most important way to survive the holidays is to create a plan. What meal will you prepare for your celebration? What ingredients will you need? Who do you need to buy presents for? Who is allergic to peanuts? Which relatives don’t like dogs? Write down everything you need to do and know in order to have a successful celebration. The more organized you are, the easier it will be to plan the perfect holiday dinner. Consider investing in a new planner or calendar solely to arrange information for your party.
If you need to shop, don’t wait until the day before your holiday dinner to do it. If you wait until the last minute to shop, you run the risk of not being able to find everything you need. Buy as many ingredients, presents, and decorations as soon as reasonably possible. This will save you stress and anxiety in the days leading up to the holiday since you’ll already having your shopping out of the way.
Worried Aunt Mildred is going to start a political argument with Uncle David again? Avoid family conflict and survive the holidays by arranging neutral activities that everyone can enjoy. You could have board games available for everyone to play, plan a scavenger hunt, or even suggest a rowdy game of charades. No matter what your family likes to do, planning at least a few activities will give everyone something to look forward to once the meal is over. Planned activities will also reduce the chances of family arguments since your relatives will be too busy having fun to fight.
Being a party planner is a huge responsibility, but you don’t have to shoulder the burden alone. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help when you need it. Consider asking a few relatives to help you wash the dishes after the meal, requesting that each guest bring a side dish, or even having the kids help clean up the wrapping paper. There is nothing wrong with asking other people to help. Most of your friends and relatives will be glad to pitch it and help you out.
If you find yourself in the midst of the celebration and you feel overwhelmed, remember to take a moment for yourself and use healthy coping mechanisms. There is nothing wrong with stepping out for a minute and taking a deep breath, listening to a relaxing song, or even resting for a few minutes. Remind yourself that this is a special event and try to think positive thoughts.
Instead of focusing on any negativity during the celebration, try to remember all of the great things you experienced during the party. Celebrating with your family should be a wonderful event, but some anxiety is normal. Take a few minutes for yourself and then rejoin the group. Chances are that you’ll feel more rested, relaxed, and ready to have fun.
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