The holidays can be filled with excitement, but they can also be stressful. If you’re worried about keeping up with healthy habits, know that it’s just okay to set boundaries and give yourself time to unwind—it’s essential!
Block out a couple hours from your busy schedule to give yourself a stay-at-home spa treatment so that you can de-stress during the holidays.
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Why are people so stressed during the holidays?
That’s a question with many answers.
Lack of money, holiday gift shopping, work deadlines, office parties, Aunt Margaret asking when you’ll have kids…,
Or perhaps it could also relate to uncomfortable family relations, pressures to organize the perfect Christmas party for family and friends, huge amount of money spent….
Whatever box you tick, there are plenty of reasons to be stressed during the holiday season. In fact, The American Psychological Association found that “38% of people say their stress increases during the holidays”.
A study performed by The Ladders came up with interesting results towards what are the most stressful things about the holiday. Check the results below:
The most stressful ways to celebrate the holidays
1. Hosting a party or dinner (51%)
2. Friends or family staying over (45%)
3. Traveling to see family or friends (45%)
4. Going out to dinner with family or friends (29%)
5. Taking a vacation (24%)
The most stressful parts of hosting for the holidays
1. Cleaning your home before a hosted dinner (41%)
2. Having enough time to get everything ready (38%)
3. Preparing holiday meals (36%)
4. Cleaning your home after a hosted dinner (34%)
5. Preparing your home for house guests (34%)
So if you’re bitting your nails thinking how can de-stress during the holidays to protect your mental health, this post is perfect for you.
6 Ways to De-stress During the Holidays so That You Start the Year WithThe Right Foot
Set the scene
First, you’ll want to make sure you have a space to relax. There’s no better place for me-time than the bathroom, so start there.
Before your at-home spa day, tidy up your bathroom space to make it feel like a true spa bathroom.
You’ll be primed for relaxation if you have things prepped beforehand, so gather your clean fluffy towels, candles (and something to light them with), bath oils or a fizzy bath bomb, and anything else that will make your bathroom a haven.
Pro Tip: Check out our self-care gift ideas for inspiration!
Free Printables | Candle Labels
Candle Labels and Wall Art can fill your space with relax-spiration!
Feel free to download these printables (no email required).
Spa Day Candle Labels
Spa Bathroom Wall Art
Pamper your skin with a face mask
From movies and TV shows to Instagram influencers, the face mask has always been a classic staple of DIY spas—for good reason.
Winter weather and time spent in heated indoor spaces can make our skin dry and chapped.
You may also be using more makeup than your skin is used to as you glam up for holiday photo shoots. Face masks can counteract the effects of the holidays by hydrating dry skin, improving your skin texture, and clearing out clogged pores.
Try these face mask recipes to give your skin the attention it deserves and de-stress during the holidays.
Free Printables | DIY Face Mask Recipes
Steam away the stress
Whether you prefer steamy showers or soaking in bathtubs, it’s time to soothe your skin with some warm water.
Taking a hot bath or shower has numerous benefits: it helps relieve muscle tension, improves blood circulation, and may even lower your blood sugar.
If you’re taking a bath, try soaking in some epsom salts or use a bath bomb made with luxurious ingredients.
Decompressing in the warm water can also be a great time to meditate and reflect—picture yourself washing away any negativity that you’ve been holding onto and start fresh.
That’s the ultimate self-care!
RELATED: How to DIY an amazing at-home facial steam with only natural ingredients
Lather up with lotion
Now, it’s time to do something about winter’s drying effect on your skin!
Use an all-over moisturizing lotion when your skin is freshly towel-dried and still damp—it will help lock in the moisture, leaving your skin smooth. You can also use a moisturizing mist or an oil.
Research your skin type to find out what type of moisturizing routine is best for you.
If any of your muscles have been feeling sore or holding tension, adding moisturizer to your skin can double as a time to give yourself a mini-massage.
If you’re into gua sha facial treatments, this can also be a great time to do gua sha.
Give yourself a makeover-worthy manicure
Now it’s time to give your hands and feet a little massage. Silly as it may seem, you’ll be quick to notice that this is another amazing way to de-stress during the holidays.
You can use the same moisturizing lotion you applied in the last step, or splurge on something truly luxurious for extra pampering.
This step can be as ambitious or as relaxed as you want it to be. You can do intensive cuticle care, buff your nails, clip them, and paint them.
Or you can just skip to the final step: pick your favorite nail color (or a couple holiday-themed ones) and start adding some festive bling!
Rest and relax
Once your nails are dry, it’s time for some rest and relaxation.
This step is most important for your mental health. If you want to feel deeply cleansed, try meditating. If you just want to zone out, get lost in a good book or put on your favorite holiday movie.
If you want to be a bedtime beauty instead, do it! It’s your time to rest—you’ve earned it.
Ready to Relieve Stress This Holiday Season?
We hope these 6 tips to avoid holiday stress are helpful to you. The important takeaway here to successfully de-stress during the holidays is to take breaks from group activities.
You must pay attention to your own needs and feelings firsthand. For that, spend a little time by yourself if you can to do any of the activities on this list to reduce your end of year holiday stress.
More wellbeing posts to reduce your stress during the holidays.
- Manage your stress with 5 incredible self care ideas to practice daily
- Is stress contagious? Study says yes. Here-s how to go on about so you reduce your stress.
- How to practice 5 dimensions of self-care so you improve your wellbeing for 2022.
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