The One Simple Way to Alleviate Holiday Stress

It’s here! The holiday season has officially begun. We are stuffing the turkey, hosting guests, traveling to parts unknown, and surviving Black Friday. And now, our to-do list is longer than ever. Gifts to buy. Presents to wrap. Packages to mail. Cards to send. Events to attend. All of these things are amazing and wonderful and so.much.fun. But if we are not mindful, they can ultimately lead to holiday stress.

There is, however, one very simply way to alleviate holiday stress. It has taken me years to learn this lesson, but once you do, there is literally no going back. Let’s talk about it.

Emails, Ads, and All that Glitters

This time of year, our inboxes, FYP, recommended videos, etc are literally FULL of ads. They come from big box stores, online shops, and friends (like me) sending you gift guides and shopping lists. Not all of this is bad, by the way. Some of it can be very helpful. But there is a phenomenon that has started to bother me over the last few years. That is the push for things to be perfect.

The four ads above were delivered to my inbox in one single day. Maybe you received them, too. Here is what I recognized immediately upon opening:

Patterned Perfection
The Perfect Gift Ships Free
Find the perfect present to inspire…
All set to Impress

I’m as much a sucker for a good sale as the next gal, so I opened these links to see what all the hype was about. Do you know what I found? I found sale items priced in the hundreds of dollars. And then, do you know what I recognized within myself? Stress. Holiday Stress.

The Drive to Impress

In addition to the holiday shopping, wrapping, sending, baking, there is this drive to impress. Let me assure you friends, the people you invite into your home are there because they care about you. There is no need to impress them with expensive dinnerware, serve ware, or table linens. In fact, I doubt they’ll even notice – or know – whether your table cloth came from Goodwill or from a high end store. They are there to celebrate with you, to enjoy fellowship, and to share a good meal or drinks or snacks. They just want to be with you!

At the risk of offending, I dare say, if you feel the need to impress the people you have invited into your home, maybe you should evaluate that relationship. These situations can cause undue holiday stress. Do your best. Give your all. But for all that is good and right, please do not feel the drive to impress.

The Perfect Holiday Stress

The title of this post is “The One Simple Way to Alleviate Holiday Stress.” And here it is. Pure and Simple. Let go of perfectionism.

Every year I see tons of YouTube videos, email ads, blog posts that talk about “the perfect” this or that. I’m guilty of writing it myself. But there is no perfect.

For years my husband and I went out Christmas shopping for ‘the perfect gift’ for so-and-so. Looking endlessly for “the perfect” color, “the perfect” size, “the perfect” surprise. And all we ended up with was “the perfect” holiday stress. But you can avoid it! Want to know how?

Embrace Imperfection-ism

It really is that simple, friend. Ignore all the ads, the blog posts, the Pinterest images, the Instagram stories that push the concept of “perfection.” Give into, and embrace, the imperfection-ism.

What will happen if your napkins are mis-matched – or paper?! Is something horrific going to occur if you don’t coordinate your wrapping paper to your Christmas decor? What if your cookware is thirty years old and has seen a few better days? Nothing! Nothing bad is going to happen if everything is not perfect. Embrace the imperfect and you will decrease your holiday stress.

Do Your Best – Forget the Rest

As I opened those email advertisements, I realized that I didn’t want to afford gifts in those price ranges. And why on earth does a perfect gift have to cost that much to begin with? Why must we have matching dinner plates, matching glassware, and matching cutlery that we may only use a handful of times during the year?

If you wish to keep your holidays simple and alleviate holiday stress, let go of perfectionism and embrace the imperfect this year. It may go against your nature, and it might even be difficult at first, but I promise you – it may be the best Christmas you’ve ever experienced.

Remember friend, keep it simple, do your best, give it your all, alleviate your holiday stress, and don’t forget to forward your mail!

John & Billie