5 Ways to Keep Your Sanity This Holiday Season (Part 3 of the Holiday Blog Series!)

For many of us, that means time spent with family, friends, and loved ones. It also means lots of food, gifts, and merriment. But let's be honest—the holiday season can also be a bit overwhelming. If you're struggling to keep your sanity this holiday season, here are five self-care tips to help you make it through.

The holiday season is a time for joy and happiness, but it's also a time when we can put a lot of pressure on ourselves to create the perfect memories. If your expectations for the holidays are unrealistic, you're likely to end up feeling disappointed and stressed out. To avoid this, take a step back and set realistic expectations for yourself and your loved ones. Rather than aiming for perfection, focus on enjoying the moments and making lasting memories. 

It's easy to get caught up in the holiday spirit and say yes to every party invitation and request for help. It is easy to over-commit. But if you over commit yourself, you're likely to end up feeling tired, overwhelmed, and stressed out. To avoid this trap, think carefully before committing to anything during the holidays. Only say yes if you genuinely have the time and energy to do it—and be sure to schedule some down time for yourself as well! And the things you don't have to do yourself-DELEGATE. It is a great skill to use! 

The holidays are a busy time of year, which can make it tempting to skip meals or forego exercise in favor of crossing things off your to-do list. But if you don't take care of your health, you're likely to end up feeling run down and sick during the most wonderful time of the year. To avoid this, make sure to eat healthy meals and get some exercise—even if it's just a short walk around the block. And watch the sugar intake... that is truly the culprit of making us feel run down and unwell in these winter months. Be sure to keep drinking all the water and teas, soups and take your Vitamin D and Vitamin C, at the very least! 

The holiday season is a great opportunity to catch up with friends and family members who you don't get to see very often. But if you try to cram too many social events into your schedule, you're likely not going to enjoy any of them. To make the most of your time with loved ones, set aside some quality time for each relationship—and don't be afraid to say no if you're feeling overwhelmed. (Again- watching for the tendency to over-commit and delegate the things others can do!) 

This one is important! The holiday season is hectic enough without adding extra pressure on yourself. So cut yourself some slack—you don't have to do everything perfectly in order to enjoy the season! It is ok to skip certain traditions or do things differently- especially if there is stress or frustration involved (for anyone!) We want to cherish our holidays and make them memorable- positive memories! As a mom and often the host, it can be difficult to change things up but often others do not notice like we do. Give yourself a little grace and know that your presence is bigger! 

In Summary, Remember that the holidays are supposed to be a fun and festive time of year—but they can also be pretty stressful. If you're struggling to keep your sanity this holiday season, try following these five self-care tips. 

By taking care of yourself both mentally and physically, you'll be able to better relax and enjoy this special time of year with your loved ones stress-free! 

Your Goal: Make positive memories and enjoy the season.