Visit our Canada siteChristmas can be tiring! And no one knows that better than moms! Being selfless, we want to provide our families with the best Christmas memories. But if we don’t take care of ourselves, we’ll end up worn out even before Christmas day arrives.
Christmas decors… check. Schedule of parties… check. Buying presents… check. Wrapping presents… check. Everyday chores… check.
Tired mom… check.
If these sound familiar, read all the way to the end. We’ve rounded up easy stress-survival strategies to help us get through mommy holiday stress.
Take care of yourself
Christmas is not the time to walk around like a fatigued, sleep-deprived robot. Moms need to find time to get much-needed rest so that we can be a blessing to our family and friends. Here are things we can sneak into our busy schedule:
- Get your Vitamin D! Wake up a little early and enjoy the morning sun with your cup of coffee. Sunshine helps our body produce Vitamin D. This Vitamin fights disease and reduces depression. Plus, it has an appetite-suppressing effect.
- Work up a sweat! Not only is exercise good for our health, raising our heartrate helps us zone out and relieve stress, anxiety, and tension. Experts say that the rhythm and repetition of exercise has a tranquilizing effect on our brain.
- Limiting gadget time at night gives our brain time to wind down and get ready for sleep. It also helps you be more productive, giving you more time wrap presents before catching your zzz’s.
Of course, these are not the only ways to take care of yourselves. Take time to indulge in activities you enjoy doing. Plan your schedule ahead so that you incorporate your me-time (think: salon or spa) in between Christmas errands. With good time management, the possibilities are endless.
Start a family tradition
A Christmas calendar is a great bonding activity that starts 12 days before Christmas. The idea is that you have your kids open a box or an envelope every day from December 14 to December 25. Inside the box, you put a strip of paper saying what activity you’ll be doing as a family together.
The daily activities can include drinking hot chocolate before sleeping, reading a Christmas story, having family movie night, or making arts and crafts together. Kids will surely experience the excitement of Christmas with these simple activities. Plus, all that laughter will surely put you in a better mood!
Do less, enjoy more
It’s okay to say “no”. Having boundaries is a great way to reduce holiday stress. So don’t feel pressured to say yes to all the invitations and requests for commitments that come your way. Moms tend to go overboard in pleasing others over the holidays. Try to say no at least once this season and enjoy slowing down a bit.
Focus on Christmas
Christmas is a time to celebrate with people you love. Define its perfection with how loud you laughed and the moments you shared together. When mom is relaxed and happy, so is her family. By taking care of ourselves first, we can be more intentional on putting the spotlight on our family and the true meaning of the Christmas season.
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