Relaxing with a cup of tea The holidays are fun and exciting when you’re a child, but as an adult, the holiday season can be the most stressful time of the year, both at work and at home. Businesses push employees to achieve year-end goals before the major holidays arrive, and family celebrations often bring their own special stresses to the season. For your health (and sanity), it’s important to find ways to manage and reduce your stress levels during the holiday chaos. Managing stress can also help you recapture that feeling of childhood wonder that comes with this celebratory season. Here are a few strategies to focus on for decreased stress this year.

1. Improve Your Sleep

Your most important de-stressing tool is a good night’s sleep. If your sleep schedule is out of balance and fluctuates each week, you’ll feel drained going into the holiday season. Try going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, including the weekends. Keep your room cool and dark when you sleep, and reduce screen time before bed as much as possible. To truly improve your quality of sleep, consider replacing your mattress and pillows. Many people don’t replace these before they are worn out, and sleeping on an old mattress or pillow can lead to aches, sores, and restless sleep. Getting a new, ergonomic mattress that supports your body for those precious hours of sleep can make all the difference and have you feeling more refreshed each morning.

2. Reflect on the Holiday

Every holiday we celebrate has a reason behind it, and the ones at the end of the year are some of the most meaningful. Take some time to figure out what each of these holidays means to you. What makes it special for you? Doing this exercise can help you shed some of the social fuss that comes with holiday events and obligations, and remember the meaning behind why we celebrate. Making the connection to the deeper feelings of the season can alleviate stress, evoke feelings of appreciation and gratitude, and put some of the less important matters — such as who will bring which foods to the holiday potluck — into perspective. Try writing down what the holidays mean to you, and post your written note somewhere you’ll see it every day, such as in your bedroom or next to your desk. This visual reminder can help you focus on why you’re participating in these holiday events and traditions in the first place. It’s a powerful mindfulness technique.

3. Get a Massage

If you work in a high-stress environment, you need ways to get rid of that extra stress after you leave the office. We hold a lot of our mental tension in our bodies. A good massage can help lower stress levels and keep you mentally relaxed. Don’t want to travel to a masseuse? Consider getting a massage chair for your home or office. With today’s advanced technology and ergonomic designs, massage chairs offer professional-level relief for aches, pains, and muscle tension as well as mental relaxation. Just be warned, you may start feeling so good that your family members will want their turn to sit down and be pampered!

4. Set Your Plans Now

One reason the holidays get stressful is due to a lack of planning. Why untangle the lights a week before Christmas when you can take some time now to check the bulbs, while the pressure is low? Plan ahead by writing out a list of things to do for each of the upcoming holidays, then tackle one or two items from your list each day. Breaking down the holiday tasks into bite-sized pieces can significantly reduce your stress. You might even surprise yourself if a holiday anxiety comes up and you suddenly remember you took care of that issue weeks ago!

5. Meditate

Meditation can give you similar restful benefits to sleep, but this practice is much more predictable once you get the knack. Beware: trying to learn how to meditate when you’re in the middle of a stress storm is not the way to go. Make an attempt on a day when you’re not feeling too stressed. Get into your recliner, get comfortable, close your eyes, then start counting your breaths. Every time you get to 10, start back at one. If your thoughts interrupt your counting, gently start again. Don’t waste time beating yourself up when you get distracted — relax, start over, and keep at it. Meditating for anywhere from 5-15 minutes a day is enough to start. Over time, you may notice a decline in your default level of stress and an improvement in your ability to pause during stressful moments and think calmly about how to proceed. A stressful holiday season can throw a huge wet blanket on the end of your year. Don’t let the enjoyment of the holidays pass you by. With these strategies, you can beat your holiday stress before it becomes too much to handle, and give yourself — and your friends and family — a happier end of the year. Ready to treat yourself with a massage chair, recliner, or at-home massage tool? Shop The Back Store’s wide variety of mattresses, pillows, massage chairs, and more to help you achieve your low-stress goals this holiday season.