7 Tips to Make the Holidays Less Stressful

When we think of the holidays, we think of eating, drinking and being merry. We probably also think about all the stresses that come with holidays. Awkward and intrusive family members who ask too many overly personal questions. The pressure to try to keep your figure while being tempted by all those delicious desserts and rich foods. Keep in mind that you don’t have to sweat the small stuff. Do what you can to take care of yourself and feel better, which may include bringing a furry companion along to those awkward family events and focusing on petting them with a dog grooming brush. If you’re looking for less stress this holiday season, here are seven tips to make the holiday season less stressful.

How To Make The Holidays Less Stressful: Here are 7 Tips

1. Remember That Less Stress Is for Your Health

According to the Mayo Clinic, going through stress and depression during the holidays does more than just put a toll on you mentally and emotionally. Stress or depression can also affect you physically to the point where you have trouble sleeping or going through your daily routine. Take care of yourself emotionally, mentally and physically. When you take care of your well-being, you’re one step closer to better managing your overall stress and health during the holiday season.

2. Don’t Be Afraid to Set Boundaries

Setting boundaries can be challenging. For many people who enjoy helping others or keeping the peace, setting boundaries with our loved ones may be something we’ve avoided for a long time. You might be great at setting boundaries at work or in other areas of your personal life, but as soon as the holidays come around and you need to see your parents again in person, things can feel way too personal for everyone involved. This holiday season, don’t be afraid to set boundaries. It might mean limiting the amount of time you spend at family gatherings. It might mean only talking to certain people at the parties or putting a hard stop on conversations you don’t want to have centered around your life or personal choices you’ve made. Do whatever you can to keep the peace — not just with others, but with yourself.

3. Know How to Avoid Family Conflict

On that note, while setting boundaries might upset some people, it’s also important to know how to avoid family conflict. You can do your best to avoid family conflict by keeping your boundaries in place. If your family starts talking about hot-button topics such as current events or politics at the party, feel free to change the subject or exit the room. When not possible, and if you’d rather not participate, you don’t have to. Remember that you can only control yourself and how you choose to react. You cannot change or control other people, including — and especially — your own family.

4. Focus on What You Can Control

We can’t stress this enough. It’s so important to focus on what you can control. That advice is great for your overall life philosophy, but it’s extra important to keep in mind when you’re attempting to reduce your stress about the holidays. Remember your role in any situation during the holidays. Are you a host? Are you a guest? Focus on your role. You don’t have to do anything outside of what you’re assigned to do. You don’t have to be anyone else other than yourself.

5. Tips for Cleaning at Home

It can be stressful to make sure your home is in tip-top shape for the holidays. If you’re a host, you already have so much on your plate. You don’t need to spend hours and hours cleaning your home. You just need to work smart and focus on the common areas that will have the most guest traffic. That means instead of plucking pet hair out of your couch cushions, you can use something like the Uproot Cleaner Pro™ to remove pet hair from your furniture, rugs and carpet.

6. Bring a Furry Companion

Let’s face it. The last thing you need is yet another question from your Great Aunt Gertrude, who keeps asking if you’re going to get married any time soon. Even in the best of situations, sometimes it’s helpful to bring a furry friend with you to holiday events. If you’re hosting at home, you can even keep your pup or cat around to keep the guests company. While you’re petting your pet, you can also keep your hands busy by grooming them with a dog hair remover brush.

7. Make the Best of the Holidays

Most importantly, try to make the best of the holidays. The holiday season is meant for enjoying, after all. Have fun with friends and family. Enjoy all the delicious foods and drinks. Be patient and kind to yourself. It’s time to relax and enjoy. The holiday season only comes once a year, so embrace it all — even those stressful moments. Reduce stress where you can realistically, even if that means taking shortcuts to clean your beautiful holiday clothing by using a portable pet hair remover to get rid of dog hair from your top.