| Hi read,
How are you today? How is it almost Thanksgiving!?! I don't know about you, but October was a lot. We enjoyed it, but it was a lot.
The holiday season is here. Yay and 😩. It's a fun time of year that can also be stressful.
For years, we would travel 3+ hours to our family ranch to hang out with and play hosts to my extended family on Thanksgiving. It was fun for our boys, but preparing a meal in a small kitchen wasn't fun for my husband and me. During the pandemic, we stopped going and started hosting a much smaller group in our home. For now, we're good with this new version of Thanksgiving. Last week my dad tried to convince me to host at the ranch this year, but I stood my ground.
So, how can you manage stress during the holiday season? I've got 7 tips:
Consider what you want the holidays to look like. It doesn't have to be magical or perfect to be a great season. Is the holiday season all about family for you? Trying to find time for friends in town? Is baking one of your love languages? Do you want to road trip to nearby towns with fun holiday events? Figure out what things you want first before you start thinking about others' needs and wants.
Maintain boundaries. Know what you want to be able to say yes to and when to say no. It's really easy to get wrapped up in the excitement (and pressure) of the season and stretch yourself too thin. Be intentional with the things you say yes to.
Be present. More JOMO, less FOMO. JOMO – joy of missing out – can overpower FOMO – fear of missing out. Enjoy the moment you're in and stop thinking about the thing you might be missing.
Simplify gift-giving. Is it time for everyone on your list outside of your home to get the same gift? Can it be a gift card so everyone buys what they want? Maybe your kids can make cute cards to go along with the gift cards. Or maybe get the same gift for all the women on your list and the same gift for all the men on your list.
Outsource a holiday task. It starts with checking your budget. How much can you afford to outsource? OK, got a number in mind? Now what can you outsource? Hire out gift wrapping or buy local from vendors that offer gift wrapping. Consider getting a one-time house cleaning before everyone arrives if you don't usually have a housekeeper. Pay for someone to decorate your house with your existing decorations. You get the idea. You can hire all sorts of things during the holidays, depending on your budget.
Be healthy. It's easy to overindulge on too much sugar and alcohol and end up feeling not-so-great, which can add to holiday stress. Drink enough water. Get enough sleep. Be intentional with what you eat and drink at home and during holiday parties. Move your body.
Schedule self-care. Small moments of self-care each day matter. It might be even more important during the hectic holiday season. Maybe ask for the gift of time this holiday season?
How do you manage stress during the holidays? Struggling in this area? Let us know in the Mompowerment Facebook group and get some new ideas in addition to those I mentioned here.
Sending you happy holiday vibes,
Suzanne
PS Save the date! Our December Accountability Session in the Mompowerment Facebook group will be on 12/1 at 12pm CST. We'll be talking about the Know Your Why Guide. Join us in the group or feel free to pass this on to someone you know who's trying to make changes in her life, starting with her motivation for change!
PPS Black Friday deals are coming your way next week! Keep an eye out mid-week or you'll miss it! | 
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