5 Tips To Avoid Holiday Stress 2021 – Single Mom Edition
The holidays can be a stressful time for anyone, but for single moms, it can be especially tough. Between buying gifts, cooking dinner, and hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, there’s a lot to manage by yourself!
I asked the moms inside of my Single Mom Quotes & Empowerment Group what do they need help with. Anxiety and stress during the holidays were on top. If you’re feeling overwhelmed this year, don’t worry – here are 5 tips to help you avoid holiday stress.
1) Visualize The Outcome
When you’re feeling stressed, take a minute to picture how it will feel when things go your way. Are you going home and having a nice meal with everyone? Are you getting to spend time with your kids and favorite people? Take some deep breaths and do this visualization as often as you need to. This will help you to stay positive and feel more in control.
2) Set Boundaries With Family Members
It’s important that you set boundaries with your family members, especially if they’re the type to be demanding or overwhelming. Say things like “I can’t talk right now, I’m busy” or “I’ll be there in a little while” and stick to them. This will help you to feel more in control and less stressed. It is important to remember that you are not being selfish for setting boundaries.
3) Take Some Time For Yourself
Even if it’s just 10-15 minutes, take some time for yourself every day. This can be time to read, relax in a bath, work on a hobby, or anything that helps you to feel carefree. You can’t take care of anyone else if you’re feeling not filling your own cup first, so make time for yourself every day.
4) Simplify Your Gift-Giving
Instead of trying to come up with something unique for every person on your list, pick a few key people and get them something they’ll really appreciate. Baked goods are also a great way to give a simple gift without overspending. When it comes to our kids, they understand more than we give them credit for. For younger kids, keep it small. You do not need to spend hundreds of dollars this season. For teenagers, be honest with them about financially where you are at.
5) Co-parenting Can Be Hard
If you’re co-parenting, things can be a little harder during the holidays. You may not get to see your kids on Christmas eve or Christmas morning. To keep your mind busy find things that you enjoy doing; reading, art, sleeping. Make sure not to spend all of your free time doing housework. Moms feel burnout and it should not be normalized. Taking “me time” is necessary.
We hope these tips help you to have a relaxing and stress-free holiday season! Single moms have enough to deal with, so it’s important to take care of yourself during the holidays. We only have one life to live try to not let the stress keep you from creating magical memories with your kids.
Were these tips helpful? Let us know your tips for handling the holiday stress this Christmas season.
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