With finishing up finals, you have to make time for buying gifts for your family, planning times to hang out with friends and family, as well as working.
Holidays can be stressful. If you work in retail, you’re probably dealing with some crazy customers.
You also get to go to a family Christmas party and hear, “Did you find a boyfriend yet?” or, “How is college going?” over and over. Not to mention your crazy conservative grandma or uncle who will just sit there and talk shit about Hillary Clinton (p.s. she lost. you can stop advocating for trump because I don’t care).
Then find times to hang out with friends, between the six family Christmas parties, work, and shopping. Holidays can be stressful and just want to get it over with. To help you get through this crazy time, here is five ways to de-stress during the holidays:
1. Drink Some Tea
Green tea could be your best friend during these times. Green tea contains Theanine, which is a relaxing amino acid and can help release some stress. It can relax you without inducing sleep so you can drink it at any time of the day. This also is a healthier route than drinking alcohol (which can sometimes sound like a good idea when around family). Tea can relax you while making sure you don’t feel like shit the next morning.
2. Take a Warm Bath
Nothing seems more relaxing than filling up your tub with hot water, adding a bath bomb or some bubble bath and soaking in the warmth. Treat yourself. Go get some bath bombs or some really good bubble bath and sit in your tub for like an hour at night with a book or a magazine, light some candles and just enjoy some you time.
3. Meditate
The adult meditation coloring books are all the rage right now. Grab one of those coloring books, some colored pencils, and just take a few minutes to escape and color. As childish as it seems, it’s a very good escape and certainly can help take the edge off for a little while. You can also do breathing exercises. You just take deep breaths and just let oxygen flow. It causes a parasympathetic reaction and will help us relax for a little while.
4. Take 10-15 Minute Walks
I know that since it's winter, it might be too cold or snowing too much.
However, if the weather is decent, go walk. It can help let off some steam, give you time to think, and just a breath of fresh air. Walking can help boost some stress-reducing endorphins which will alleviate some stress and mild depression.
5. Find someone to talk to
I’m not saying to go to a therapist, but sometimes a healthy rant is necessary. It helps you get whatever you’re feeling off your chest. You will feel like weights have been lifted off your shoulders. Sometimes you need to just say what you’re thinking to feel better.
