6 ways to clear out stress from your holidays

Holidays arrive with great zeal every year. After the socially distanced holiday seasons of the pandemic, a regular holiday season is a true a gift. So much catching up to do! There are more parties, more gatherings. Everyone wants to meet up and celebrate. We have missed this! This year, we need to grab every opportunity with both hands.

A relief and joy it is, for sure, but social commitments bring a stress of their own. After the sequestration of the pandemic, all the socializing can feel exhausting. Some of us may be out of practice. How do you host a party again? What will we all talk about? There are new questions we need to consider. Do I invite the friends I haven't spoken to in a while? Does everyone need to be vaccinated? Yeah, so besides the shopping and cooking, there is also the sanitizing and masking. It's a different holiday.

So here are 6 ways to wipe out stress from your holidays and have an extra joyous holiday season.

1. Find ‘Me time’

I know it sounds cliched, but ensuring a few minutes of 'Me Time' is crucial for your mental wellness. The temptation to maximize our social time is strong, or you may have so much to do that you may feel unable to step away.

But you can. Trust me on this. It will be okay.

You won't be missed. Not for a while at least. Not terribly, atleast.

Our devices have an infinite capacity to keep us entertained. Harness that power to keep company engaged while you slip away for a few minutes to just be. The calmer you are, the more present you can be. Think of your ‘Me Time’ as an investment in spending quality time with those you care about.

Me time ideas:

• Take a 20 minute nap

• Practice breathwork and meditation

• Take a long shower

• Go for a solo short walk

• Sit comfortably with a beverage of choice

• Journal about your day