Ideas for Beating Holiday Stress Before It Even Starts

I’ve been having serious hibernation impulses lately. Of course part of it is the natural ebb and flow of energy that comes with shorter days and cooler temperatures, but I’m also chalking up my longing for couch time to how incredibly stressful this year has been both in the news and in my own life. The news, of course, has been heavy and serious—and tomorrow’s election feels like the culmination of a seriously weighty 2018.

And for me personally, I’ve had tons of exciting career developments, but let’s just say that the midnight oil isn’t the only thing around here that’s burnt out. And as we head into the holiday season, I’m conscious that the busiest time of year hasn’t even happened yet! So in the interest of keeping our sanity (regardless of tomorrow’s election results – Videospelautomater.com) here are some clever ideas for beating holiday stress before it even starts. Because when it comes to stress and anxiety, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of peppermint bark!

Charitably unload with these clutter clearing tips, so you can head into the holidays with a clean slate.

That pre-party “nothing to wear” scramble is the worst! Get ahead of your holiday outfit planning with fall fashion trends you’ll actually want to wear.

Exercising your right to vote is the best gift you can give yourself—and your fellow citizens. Loving Erin’s sentiments on how important tomorrow’s election is for Americans of all political persuasions. Plus did you know that voting is actually good for your health?)

Does picking up your phone feel more like a compulsion than a mindful choice? (Um, my hand’s raised over here!) A few simple phone habit changes can give you the gift of time (even hours per day!) this holiday season.

I always start each holiday season with big plans for all the fun ways I’ll celebrate—and then they eventually get lost in the shuffle. So I love this seasonal bucket list idea for getting your cheer schedule into gear to avoid missing any holiday highlights!

I don’t have kids yet, but I’m bookmarking this sanity-saving parenting tip to navigate those inevitable post-festivity meltdowns (and I might even use it on myself this year)!

Paint the town red—instead of being in the red—with these money-savvy tips to keep your budget in check this holiday season. Because it’s much easier to make merry without debt hanging over your head, right?

Images: Decus Interiors.