The end of the year holidays bring a level of stress for everyone. The kids may be out of school, while you have to work and plan for Christmas parties and New Year’s get-togethers. Or you need to get work done before the end of the year, though half your team is taking time off. Here are a few tips for Red Deer residents to reduce their stress at what is supposed to be a joyful time.  

  • Take time for yourself.  

We sometimes get so caught up in doing things for other people that we forget to take care of ourselves. Don’t forget to get enough sleep and take time to be by yourself to recharge during the busy holiday season. Do take time for a date night or evening alone with your partner instead of focusing only on the kids. It is alright to not have a house that looks like it belongs on Pinterest in favor of having breathing room in your own life.  

  • Recognize what truly matters.  

Your children’s love doesn’t depend on the amount of money you spend on presents or the number of gifts they receive. Real friends won’t judge you based on how well your home resembles a glossy holiday magazine cover. What matters is what you have, and that is often intangible. If you find yourself feeling down because your life doesn’t look like the ideal held up by others, start a gratitude journal. List what you can be thankful for. List your accomplishments for the year. Consider volunteering to help the needy so that you can better appreciate what you do have. When you’ve donated time, goods or money to people who lack sufficient food or are homeless, you will feel great about helping them.  

  • Budget.  

There are several ways applying this concept to your life can reduce your stress. If you set a strict limit on what you’re going to spend for the holidays, you’ll find your family can be creative at finding ways to enjoy themselves without spending a lot of money. Break out the old board games, books and movies instead of going to the movie theater.  

Set a time budget so that you’re not constantly on the go, racing from one event to another because you feel bad if you don’t. Do set time aside for yourself, whether it is making sure you have enough time to sleep each night, time with your partner or family without having everyone else around, or a relaxing evening soaking in a tub.  

Another variation of this advice is using the end of the year to take note of your financial situation and planning a budget for next year. Planning when you’ll spend money and how much you’ll dedicate to each category could reduce your worries about how you’ll pay upcoming bills. Deciding now to cut back in certain areas or refinancing your mortgage with Whalen Mortgages so you can afford to live your life without going deeper into debt will certainly reduce money fights and stress next year.  

  • Seek support.  

You don’t have to put on a show and make it look like your life is perfect. This actually contributes to stress and depression. Take time to share your worries and concerns with close family and friends when they’re around. If this isn’t an option, then talk to a psychology or counselor. Just know that you shouldn’t carry these burdens alone.   

We hope that these holiday tips make your holidays a little less stressful. And Whalen Mortgages wishes Red Deer residents a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  

Red Deer Mortgage Broker