Three Tips to Reduce Stress During the Holidays

We’re at the peak of the holiday season—finishing our shopping, finalizing travel plans, and getting our homes ready for guests to arrive.

In other words, the holidays come with lots of to-dos (and pressure) that sometimes our mental health and personal wellbeing take a back seat.

While it’s important to check things off our list, it’s also important to take time for ourselves and families so we can decompress and recharge for what comes next.

This holiday season, we hope you can prioritize your mental health and self-care to make this time of year more enjoyable and less stressful.

Here are three tips to get you started.

REMEMBER THE MEANING OF THE SEASON

It can be easy to forget the meaning behind the holiday season. We get wrapped up in the shopping, the decorating, and the baking that we lose sight of what’s really important.

For many, it’s our relationships that hold the most meaning during the holidays. Relationships with our family, friends, and co-workers.

This season, dedicate some time to focus on your relationships. Everyone can benefit from being around other positive influences.

For example, you might consider planning a family outing or even an activity at home. You could also arrange a lunch date or weekend getaway with friends.

Or, you don’t have to plan anything at all. Sometimes the best memories come from spontaneous moments of laughter and connection.

At the end of the day, it’s those personal interactions that matter most—and when you remember this, the smaller things don’t hold as much weight.

TAKE BREAKS AND DON’T OVERCOMMIT

No matter how hard we try to avoid it, sometimes tensions boil over and the stress starts to get the better of us. In these moments, it’s helpful to step away and take a break.

To some of us, that might mean talking to a friend or scrolling through social media. For others, it might mean finding a quiet place to meditate for 20 minutes.

Whatever helps you relax, make sure that’s a top priority. There isn’t a limit to how many breaks you can take during the day, so take advantage of those opportunities.

Also remember that it’s ok to say “no” or to share responsibilities. More often than not, we overcommit and find ourselves scrambling to get everything done.

Start by setting healthy expectations for yourself and then communicating those expectations with others. It’s always a good thing to be on the same page.

As an example, you might choose to delegate some of the workload. Instead of making dinner by yourself, ask everyone to bring a favorite dish to share.

Setting boundaries isn’t always easy, but when implemented, this step will save you a lot of time and stress in the long run.

INVEST IN BETTER SLEEP

Although it might sound counterintuitive, sleep is one of the most productive things we can do. Because when we sleep better, we’re ready to take on the tasks of the day.

Your bedroom should be a safe place where you can relax and disconnect from the world. Your bed plays an important role in that experience.

So, if you notice that your bedding doesn’t meet your needs, or that your mattress isn’t as comfortable as it once was, consider upgrading your sleep setup.

You can get everything you need from Malouf. We have all the essentials to turn your bedroom into a relaxing oasis that makes better sleep attainable.

If you want to make a larger investment, we recommend starting with one of our sleep systems that comes with a premium mattress and customizable adjustable bed base.

You can also make some simpler updates by shopping our lineup of pillows, sheets, protectors, and toppers. Any investment made to your sleep is an investment worth making.