Holiday Stress & Pressure, It’s All Optional

As the cooler days start, and the winter months get closer, along with all the pressures of the holiday season...

CHECK IN ON EACH OTHER.

I am a working mom and I used to DREAD the beginning of the Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas cycle.

I would get exhausted feeling like I had to take my kid to all the holiday experiences, hang up decorations, and keep up with it all.

I was trying to be like my Mom, who was on top of every holiday.

But then I realized - that's not me.

I decided that I wouldn't be a mom that puts up holiday decorations - my husband does it with my daughter.

I decided one year not to send out holiday cards - no one noticed.

I stopped sending out handwritten thank you cards for Christmas gifts - my family and friends get a text. I couldn't handle the stress of feeling "behind" with that task. And that is OKAY.

I started a new tradition of baking a birthday cake for Jesus - it was a hit and made me smile.


Holiday tasks are ALL OPTIONAL.


The holidays and colder months can be especially hard with people that have conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Be sure you are checking in on each other, and taking the time to genuinely see how people are doing.

You never know how much someone can be struggling - most mask it under a smile and picture perfect images on social media.

Don't be afraid that you are "bothering people" or "being nosy."

It's okay to genuinely care about your friend's lives.

Check in on each other, check in with yourself, and if a holiday tradition seems too much to you, you DO NOT have to do it.

How can you take the pressure off this holiday season?

What would it feel like to enjoy the holidays in a simpler way, instead of dreading all the "obligations?"