Tips to Manage Holiday Stress for the Busy Woman
Coping with Holiday Stress as a Busy Woman
The holiday hustle and bustle can leave you feeling more like the Grinch than merry and bright.
It’s a busy time of year and you’re already operating on overload with everything else you have going on in life.
In this blog, I’m sharing with you 6 ways the busy woman can make her holiday season a little easier.
I am an online therapist in Wilmington, NC, and provide online therapy in North Carolina and Maryland.
I specialize in therapy for anxious hard-working women. Most often women I work with experience high-functioning anxiety and other issues including perfectionism and burnout.
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Keep reading to check out some helpful tips to get you through the holiday season.
6 Helpful Tips for Getting Through the Holiday Season When You’re Busy
Whether you like them or not, the holidays can be stressful. Listed below are some helpful tips you can start to implement this year or plan for in the future.
Tip #1 for the Busy Woman - Start early
If you are anything like me, I say I’m going to start my holiday shopping early every year. I think I’ve completed this goal twice (and not in back-to-back years). Man, did it feel good! A sense of relief and I could proudly say I was done shopping before most of my friends said they even started (just don’t ask me if I had everything wrapped and mailed out early).
Life happens and things get in the way and holiday shopping is one of those back burner things that you’ll get to it when you can. For some, this becomes last minute and creates a bundle of stress.
If you can plan ahead, it can also allow you to take advantage of some good deals too and save some money.
Tip #2 for the Busy Woman - Create a list
I nerd out over making lists. However, sometimes my lists leave me feeling more overwhelmed than when I originally started.
Fellow therapist MacKenzie Bradke, LCSW of Follow Your Arrow Counseling in St. Charles, MO, states, “If your list is too long and still overwhelming, fold it over so you only see one thing at a time.”
Tip #3 for the Busy Woman - Don’t overcommit
Raise your hand if you’ve done the overcommitting thing because you want to do all things or make everyone happy but now you just wanna crawl in a hole and not come out. (Slowly raises hand)
The famous Ice Cube lyrics state “check yo’ self before you wreck yo' self” comes into play here. Meaning think about the consequences of your choices.
Sometimes it can be really hard to say “no” but it is also important to set some healthy boundaries and sometimes that means taking care of yourself.
Tip #4 for the Busy Woman - Don’t fuss over the food
This might be one area where you can completely take it off your plate or at the very least partially off your plate.
Whether you are having turkey, fish, ham, a roast, all the sides, desserts, and sometimes even the appetizers, that’s a lot to do. It’s even more to prep and cook when you are hosting friends and family get-togethers for the holiday.
Take some of the stress off your plate and make it a potluck, order out, or have it catered.
The point is to spend time together not spend time in the kitchen and make sure you time everything perfectly.
Give yourself a much-needed break.
Tip #5 for the Busy Woman - Ask for help
This is a big one and can be hard to do. We all need help sometimes. My fellow therapist friend MacKenzie gives some helpful tips here, she says “ask a friend who loves to wrap to help you or have your husband order some things on Amazon rather than braving the stores.”
I love the idea of getting some friends together and getting an assembly line going for wrapping gifts. (says the person who hates gift wrapping)
Tip #6 for the Busy Woman - Be kind to yourself
The holiday season can be fun, exciting, stressful, and exhausting. For some, the holiday season may not be enjoyable.
Typically, a lot is going on for yourself and others. Amid some hard moments, because most likely they will show up, try to remember to give yourself a break. It is important to treat yourself with kindness and compassion.
Start Anxiety Therapy in Wilmington, NC at Calm Waters Counseling
The holidays are hard and you might find yourself dreading them every year.
Having support through the holidays is essential. Macaroni meltdowns and the overload of family get-togethers don’t have to leave you on the edge of insanity.
I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for anxiety treatment.
Learn more about ACT and how acceptance and commitment therapy could be a good fit for you.
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Complete the brief questionnaire sent to your email before the consultation
Meet with your anxiety therapist
Start enjoying your holidays more
Therapy for High Achievers in Wilmington, NC at Calm Waters Counseling
Busy high-achieving women juggle it all and when the holidays come around it adds an extra layer of responsibilities. That’s a lot of pressure.
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Written by: Laura Rippeon, LCSW, LCSW-C
Updated 3/18/23