5 Ways To Unwind This Holiday Season

Hey Babes!

On the twelfth day of blogmas...

I’m sharing my favorite ways to unwind during the holiday season.

While I am anxious all year long, the holidays bring out a whole different side of me. My anxiety and stress stem from my need to make everything look and feel perfect. I am a control freak and I want this time of year to feel like a warm and fuzzy Hallmark movie at all times. I want sugar cookies baking in the oven while we decorate our tree. I want to spend my Christmas Eve night in matching pajamas by the fireplace sipping on hot chocolate while playing board games. On Christmas day, I want to wake up to a blanket of fresh snow covering the ground. I want to find the perfect sentimental and thoughtful gift for each one of my family members.

My actual Christmas season almost always includes a mental breakdown in the parking lot of the mall because I have no idea what to get someone on my list. My mom has a history of burning all of the cookies when she bakes. Our Christmas lights are always missing at least one bulb. I don’t think my family has ever played a board game all together and snow on Christmas day is about as likely as winning a million dollars on a lottery scratch off ticket. Real holidays, at least in my life are not like Hallmark movies.

So, how do I unwind during this stress inducing season?

First, for your sanity, limit your time on social media. I know that, that sounds odd to be reading on a blog, but it is so important to take time away from your phone or computer. It is so easy to compare your holiday to an influencer’s perfectly curated filtered feed! It’s okay, for life to not be perfect. * Repeating this to myself over and over again until it sticks! *

My second tip is to take time for yourself. The holidays are an incredibly stressful time of year for most people, so it is important to take time for yourself to breathe. When I get off of work early, I grab a Starbucks and walk around the mall by myself. I look at things I can’t afford, try on expensive clothes in Bloomingdale’s and people watch. As an introvert, I die for my alone time.

My third trick is to... exercise! I know that it sounds wild, but exercising really does make me feel better. It’s another way for me to enjoy some solitude and while I fully want to die when I’m on the treadmill, because those 30 minutes last a thousand years, when I’m done I do feel better and I have more energy.

My fourth tip is to talk about your stress. Don’t be like me and wait until you have a complete mental breakdown in a CVS parking lot whilst wearing a faux fur vest, sipping on an iced chai, crying so hard that you give yourself a migraine. Odds are that other people are feeling the same way that you are and talking about what has you down might lighten the load.

My fifth and final tip is to get a good night’s sleep! Nothing makes me feel better than putting on my pajamas, spritzing a room spray and climbing into my cozy bed. While sleeping with anxiety may be nearly impossible sometimes, just lying under my blankets makes me feel better!

Bonus Jonas Tip: Most people’s holidays aren’t picture perfect, mine included, but it doesn’t mean that they are somehow less than. No one’s life is perfect, I’m sure even the genetically gifted Beckham family has hard days. Statistically speaking, the holiday season is the most stressful time of year, so if nothing else, take solace in the fact that you are not alone! We’re all having a fucking holly jolly time.

Those are my tips and tricks for unwinding during the holiday season! How do you destress this time of year?

xoxo,

Kelly