If this story is familiar to you, know that you are not alone in experiencing it. In fact, women seems to feel the holiday stress more than men do. There are simply too many things to do and the overwhelming feeling that the holiday season brings may just ruin the true spirit of the holiday cheers.

Why Do You Feel Holiday Stress?

1. You suddenly feel like a superwoman ( or a superman ) where you think you can do everything on your own. Continue to do this and you will run down both your mind and body, making you feel too tired to enjoy the holiday spirit.

2. You drink, eat, and spend too much. There is always a wisdom in moderation and anything you do in excess will have consequences you will definitely regret later.

3. You just feel suffocated with too much togetherness with your family and suddenly, you are wishing for a room to breathe.

4. Or, you may feel the opposite and feel just so blue and alone. Maybe it’s time to make another family visit from the last one you had a couple of years back.

5. It’s the weather, not you. The holiday season is also a great time for SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder. When the sun feels like hibernating during the winter days, the immune system may also weaken and you may have less energy or enthusiasm in doing the things you love.

How Can You Manage Holiday Stress?

There are many ways to beat holiday stress for good and it shall depend on your personal choices. You can:

1. Prioritize

There are just too many things to do during the holiday season – learn to face this reality! You may actually enjoy doing all of these if you prioritize your to-do-list and schedule everything properly. You will be surprised at how efficient your holiday activities will be when you sort out which you must do first, second, third, and more.

2. Accept & Share

Learn that you are not superhuman and you may have to cut corners on some activities that you have in mind. If you don’t have the time to bake a cake, you may actually buy one from the nearest bakery. You can also share tasks with your loved ones or family members, which make it more fun without you carrying the burden of doing everything. Lower your expectations and remember that it’s the thought that counts!

3. Set Limits

You are simply human and there are people whom you don’t want to spend time longer with. Try to allocate special time to people that matters most to your life. If you are living alone, you may invite your friends over, or go over their place instead. You may even give your time to a fulfilling volunteer work and bring out a smile from total strangers.

4. Just Breathe

If everything around you suddenly goes in a whirlwind, just pause and breathe. Don’t panic if the holiday meal you have prepared is slightly burned or if you don’t have that dress to wear at a company holiday party. In fact, amidst the confusion, just breathing deeply brings fresh oxygen to your brain, giving you all that focus you need to get you going. Remember that nobody’s perfect and people will still love you regardless of tiny mishaps.

If you are going to face a tough day, you may listen to binaural beats the night before, for you to get a quality sleep that will prep you up for the busiest day of your life. The special frequencies used in binaural music can help you reach a deep state of meditation within minutes. Just sit or lie down, revel in the splendor of sound technology, and get yourself ready to face a mega holiday rush the next day. Breathe!

Stress Reducing Tips for a Stress Free Holiday: