4 Ways to Beat Holiday Stress Now

The holidays are supposed to be a time of refreshment and relaxation. So why do they feel anything but stress-free these days?

Traffic to fight, gifts to buy, and a work-life schedule calling for more flexibility than a master yogi are enough to make anyone go mad. So if the only thing bright in your week was the glaring red lights of bumper-to-bumper traffic, read on for 4 great ways to find your holiday happiness.

4 Ways to Beat Holiday Stress

1)     Get Outside

Call them crazy, but REI sure knew what they were doing when they closed up shop on the busiest sales day of the year and paid their employees, instead, to get outdoors. The #OptOutside movement not only spread joy, renewal, and connection within the company; it also inspired their customers and partners alike to go outside.

Retail therapy? Try tree therapy.

Getting outside is one of the most effective ways to boost your mental and physical well-being. Plus, it’s free! Just look at all the benefits of getting outside, as told by Business Insider:

• Stress relief
• Restored mental energy
• Improved short-term memory
• Better concentration
• Sharper thinking and creativity
• Immune system boost—including possible anti-cancer effects,
• And so much more!

Too cold to get outside, you say? Depending on your location, there are a range of activities to get your blood pumping, all the while enjoying good scenery—and company, too!

Whether home for the holidays is in one of our Fairfield communities, or at the house where you grew up, grab your friends and family for some wintry fun:

• The Northeast: Try hitting the slopes at one of these ski areas, or keep it low-key: ice skating in the city is both fun, and festive.
• The Southeast: Find yourself with friends or family in Florida? Both Santa’s Enchanted Forest and the Zoo Lights at Zoo Miami will sparkle the stress away—and gift you with a brisk walk outdoors.
• The Midwest: If you’re from Michigan, you’re bound to have memories at Boyne. Switch it up this winter and shred through the snow dog sledding or snowmobiling—because, why not?
• The West Coast: Southern California basically has one season year-round: sunny. Hit the slopes and the surf in the same day, or take the road less traveled through a top hiking trail.

Don’t see your location or favorite activity on our list? Leave a comment with your favorite way to get outdoors in the winter—we love recommendations from our community members!

2)     Eat and Enjoy #AllTheThings

It’s the holidays. Let up a little! Besides, you just broke a sweat (see #1)—even if it was only to get your bake on.

Hey, mixing batter burns calories too.

Cookies. Cookies are always a good choice. (Photo via Jennifer Pallian on Unsplash)

Remember what the holidays were like as a kid? The presents; the cookies; and oh, the fun! There’s something about this season which invites you back to childhood, if only for the moment.

Consider this your permission slip to delight in the goodness of the season. Whether your guilty pleasure involves Mom’s comfort food or indulging in Hallmark Holiday movies, go for it.

Promise we won’t spill your secret—even if you do binge watch Christmas Prince (*ahem* Netflix).

3)     Practice Gratitude

Ah, gratitude. One of the biggest buzzwords of 2017.

But don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it.

According to Happier Human, practicing gratitude is great for so many reasons:

• Gratitude makes people happier, and healthier
• It also makes people more likable (and not just in the Facebook “like” kind of way)
• It can boost your career
• Gratitude increases self-esteem
• It can also help you make more friends!

And these are just 5 of the 31 benefits to practicing gratitude as mentioned by Happier Human.

But take notice, however: feeling gratitude is much different than practicing it. The practice of gratitude requires training, discipline, and regularity. Like exercise.

One of our favorite ways to practice gratitude is by keeping a gratitude journal. And science backs it up, too. In one study, keeping a gratitude journal caused participants to report 16% fewer physical symptoms; 10% less physical pain; 25% increased sleep quality, and more.

Keep a gratitude journal for your health and happiness.

Grab yourself a planner to record your goals for 2018—and your gratitude, too. Passion Planner* is one such resource: a calendar and journal in one, with several spaces to fill as you please.

Do you keep a journal, or have you been wanting to start one? Leave a comment below with your tips and tricks to practicing gratitude.

4)     Unplug

LinkedIn just released their 50 big ideas list for 2018: 50 of the top forecasted trends from bigtime bosses, academics, economists, and other bold thinkers. The #1 trend for 2018?

Unplugging. That is, turning off your tech for some predetermined amount of time.

“We’re at an inflection point,” says Arianna Huffington, CEO of Thrive Global, former President and Editor-in-Chief of Huffington Post, and all-around admirable #girlboss. Technology may have paved the way for convenience, but it’s also taken hold of our lives, Arianna says.

The evolution of the workforce from the 9-5 office job to working remotely is great for flexibility—until it begs the question of when the workday truly ends. For this reason, business leaders like Virgin founder Richard Branson have started to implement a company-wide digital detox.

So whether you choose to spend a weekend or a few hours unplugging, make like Huffington or Branson for more peace; more productivity; more connection to the people and places around you.

Now, this is our kind of to-do list. (Image adapted from Jess, 26 and Not Counting)

With all the hullabaloo of the holidays, this time can elicit more stress than joy. So give yourself the best grown-up gift: of being present; of enjoying the people and environment around you; of reveling in the magic and wonder this season was meant to bring.

Your loved ones, and yourself will thank you for it.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Fairfield Residential to you and yours!

*In case you were wondering, this is not a paid promotion. In no way does this blog, or any brands mentioned here, reflect the greater organization. Some of us just happen to be fans and hope to help spark inspiration!