Holiday Stress Relief—5 Chill Activities That Work for Me

Are you enjoying a brief period of calm between Thanksgiving and Christmas, or are you in a frenzy of peak holiday planning? Either way, I encourage you to give yourself some breathing room this week—both to savor the season and conserve your energy for the whirlwind days ahead.

Christmas is a beautiful holiday, but it’s also an enormous, complex project with many moving parts and a hard deadline. As matriarchs, we are often the ones leading the charge. We want to honor family traditions and give everyone lasting warm memories, but the crush of activities can be hectic and stressful. I’ve been deliberately trying to balance the pressure to shop-cook-schedule-party-eat-decorate-gift-delight-entertain with activities that are very low key. Here are some practices that are working for me.

A Silent Night. After the Thanksgiving weekend, when I hosted three parties and had a full house, I felt socially drained and talked out. The perfect antidote was a night of complete quiet. Liam was out of town so after a brief chat with him, I put my phone away, snuggled up on the couch with my dog Phoebe and read a book. No screens, no music, no talking. The quiet felt very weird at first—almost loud. And then I eased into the silence, which felt completely delightful. The holidays are a bombardment on the senses. Placing life on “mute” for a few hours is peaceful and soothing.

Delete the Meat. Holiday meals are so rich and very meat centric. After the Thanksgiving blowout I’ve been lightening up on what I’m cooking, trying to eat more veggies and less animal protein. I haven’t cut out anything completely, but being conscious of eating more healthfully right now feels good and it’s a nice breather before the decadence of Christmas kicks in.

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Take a Walk. I have to do this multiple times a day, because I have a dog and live in a high rise. But honestly, a walk in fresh air is always a good idea. Even if it’s freezing outside, just bundle up and do it. Going for a walk is invigorating and boosts your mood. My favorite time to walk is early morning, just before the sun rises, but strolling after dark is kind of an adventure too. You can enjoy the holiday lights and peek into your neighbors’ windows while feeling the thrill of being out at night. Take a flashlight for safety, this little one works great for me.

Undo your To-dos. When you look at your holiday to-do list, there’s probably at least one task you’re really dreading. For me it’s all the cooking, so I’m going to simplify the menus and mix some store bought goodies and carry-out into my holiday meal planning. Maybe you cringe at the idea of gift wrapping, writing holiday cards, or that awkward office happy hour. Here’s a thought—don’t do it! Pop your gifts in brown paper bags, post a cheery greeting on Facebook and send your regrets to that party. Honestly, no one will care all that much and you can save your enthusiasm for things you’ll really enjoy.

Get Lit. It’s so dark out there. In Chicago the sun sets just after 4pm, and even here in Florida the evenings feel really long. The darkness brings me down. This is where holiday lights come in. I go heavy on the candles (even in the morning) and string twinkling lights in different rooms to add sparkle. I don’t have a yard, but I put lights out on the balcony so I have something festive to look out on instead of blackness.

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I really feel taking time to relax and savor the little cozy moments of the season is as much a celebration of the holidays as big parties, feasts and presents. We need to pace ourselves. How are you injecting some relaxation into your season? I’d love to hear what’s working for you!