13 Step New Routine To Reduce pre-Christmas Stress

Every year, do you promise yourself that this year you’ll be organized enough to finally relish the festive season? For once, you’ll have everything shipshape, avoid the Christmas stress and actually enjoy yourself!

For that to actually happen, you’ll become a productivity ninja. You’ll start making changes just as soon as the summer holiday season ends. But then the seasonal anxiety strikes. You struggle to deal with day-to-day stuff, let alone make changes.

You remember those sunny summer days when you were full of zest? Ideas sprouting inside your mind? Good intentions forming into rock-solid plans? Aaaah, all those plans for the post-holiday overhaul…

It all seemed very achievable because you were relaxed and you had more fuel, thanks to the Sun.

‘’Once the holidays are over, I’ll hit the gym, update my CV, look for a new job, start running, de-clutter, go to be early, stop eating sweets…no problem.’’

But then, Autumn came, and damp gloom replaced the Sun’s kindly warmth. You naturally feel less enthusiastic about doing anything, except curl up and sleep.

As if that weren’t enough already. You now have to brace yourself for the imminent season of festivities with all its busyness and chaos.  

So how do you keep lethargy, melancholy, and anxiety at bay?

How do you escape and get to the ball with these three ugly sisters latching onto you?

How do you get through Christmas without stress?

Change Your Routine To Have a Stress Free Christmas

When summer starts winding down and fall arrives, you might go through a lot of different emotions and changes.

People are often confused when suddenly they feel lethargic, depressed, and their anxiety worsens.

This is known as seasonal anxiety. It’s very similar to seasonal affective disorder. It can slow you down or even stop you from doing things you had planned.

One thing that can help during this time is to switch up your routine.

Adjusting Your Daily Routine To Fight the Seasonal Anxiety and Christmas Stress

During hectic times, having structure and regular routine is mega important. You need them to manage your stress and anxiety levels while maintaining productivity so that you can accomplish your goals.

But the trick to making any routine work for you is to customize and adjust it to seasonal changes.

In Autumn, we often feel the pressure more than at any other time of the year. From easy summer living back to heavy-duty workload. From balmy sun-lit days into the colder, darker times. As we transition from one to the other, the feeling of misery rises.

But there are many ways you can vanquish that sense of impending doom. One of them is to create a robust daily routine specifically for Autumn. Switching up your routine not only helps you stay productive as summer turns into fall.

It can help you better embrace this season and hopefully settle your anxiety a bit. Planning and preparing ahead will also help you to avoid that dreaded Christmas stress.

Setting aside the time to set up and maintain a new seasonal routine is crucial. It’s an effective way to combat anxiety and overwhelm. Purposely structuring your time gives you a sense of control and thus reduces pressure. It also increases your productivity so that you can prepare for the seasonal festivities without the typical Christmas stress.

Morning VS Nighttime Routines

Before you work on your daily routines, choose between altering your morning or nighttime routine, or both. Think about what you do each day in the morning, versus what you do in the evening. Does one of them need more attention than the other?

For example, do your days always start off chaotically? Are you completely stressed out by the time you get to work? Then you probably need to adjust your morning routine. Or, are you having trouble sleeping and always going to bed way too late? Then it’s your nighttime routine that you need to adjust.

Consider Both Physical and Mental Health

Your daily routine should comprise activities that address both your physical and mental wellness. These are equally important and can both be impacted by the choices you make every day.

Add at least one activity to your routine for your physical health, and one for your mental or emotional health.

For example, the food you eat, physical exercise, and drinking more water are all good for your physical health. Writing in a journal or planner, meditating, and mindfulness are all good for your mental health.

Upgrade Your Current Routine To Mitigate Christmas Stress

Once you’ve decided which daily routine to focus on, you can then start thinking of ways to upgrade it and make changes appropriate for the time of year.

What is giving you the most problems? Where do you need improvements? What are the specific challenges for you at this time of the year? What can you add every day for your health and happiness?

You can make small adjustments that reduce your general stress and specifically the Christmas stress. Such as waking up 20 minutes early to write in your journal before getting ready for the day. Or adding in a little extra reading time with your kids before their bedtime.

Even small changes will improve your physical and mental health. Every little adjustment can set you up for more focused and productive days, despite the autumnal gloom.

Reduce Anxiety and Christmas Stress With Healthy Habits

Start your new fall routine by choosing some healthy habits that will get your body and your mind ready for the season. Anxiety can be rough on your mental and physical state.

But there are many healthy remedies to relieve some of the anxiousness. Most important of all, listen to your body and treat yourself with kindness.

Here are some healthy habits to consider adding to your routine:

1. Wake Up Early

Waking up earlier is a big part of setting a new morning routine. It can seem easier to do in the spring and summer when the sun comes up earlier in the day. On the other hand, when it’s cooler in the fall, it might be the last thing you want to do, I know. But this is a great strategy to manage stressful factors and get ready to tackle the Christmas stress too.

It helps you re-focus on productivity. When you wake up earlier, it gives you more time to get things done and settle into the right mindset. But if you typically hit snooze several times before getting out of bed, you’ll lose the precious opportunity to seize the day.

If you get out of bed at the last possible minute, then there isn’t enough time to do anything other than jump in the shower and throw clothes on as fast as possible.

However, if you wake up even an hour earlier every morning, you’ll have much more time to find the right mindset and do something that will get you closer to your goals.

People who wake up early are happier. Being a morning person is also linked to more happiness and contentment. Yes, waking up early can be rough in the beginning, but you can do it.

Waking up early is extremely beneficial for you. It helps you to get things done, have a more positive mindset, and even add in some healthy habits. All of this can mean that you’ll become a happier person.

It helps you fit in daily exercise. With just a little more extra time in the morning, you can manage a quick exercise routine. It doesn’t have to be a trip to the gym. Just 20 minutes of yoga or going for an early morning walk is a wonderful practice to start your morning. It gives you more energy and helps you get ready for the day.

2. Add a Morning Workout

Becoming healthier physically is wonderful for your emotional and mental health and wellbeing.

While you are working on improving your fall morning routine, why not add a quick workout?

Not only will you start your day with more energy, but you’ll live a healthier life at the same time.

Gentle exercise each day promotes mental health. Exercise doesn’t have to feel like punishment! It is great for your heart health, muscles, and yes, your mental health. Release those endorphins and reduce anxiety just by adding a small amount of exercise to your day.

Increased physical activity prevents weight gain. Colder temperatures often result in less outdoor activity, even if you enjoy the fall and winter months. Increase the amount of daily exercise you receive by walking more or spending time at an indoor gym.

Incorporate exercises that are easy to implement into your daily routine. Even if you are stuck inside of the house due to poor weather conditions outside.

Remaining active throughout the fall and winter prevents health issues, muscle atrophy, and weight gain even in the harshest weather. 

Exercise supports restful sleep. Making the right changes to your lifestyle during the fall and winter months guarantees better solid sleep. With the right changes, you’ll feel well-rested each morning even during the shortest days of the year.

3. Eat a Healthy Breakfast

Don’t forget about breakfast! While it isn’t mandatory, it is great to start your day off right. At the end of your morning routine, eat a quick and healthy breakfast for more energy.

Whether you make fruit or green smoothie, or a bowl of oatmeal with sliced fruit and a cup of green tea, breakfast that is filling and nutritious is the most important meal of your day.

4. Change Your Diet for the Cooler Seasons

During the cold months, it is not uncommon to crave more comfort foods such as soups and warm casseroles.

Enjoying a balanced diet. It is well known that a poor diet exacerbates anxiety. Therefore, it’s important to add more nutrients to your favorite meals for a better balance of vitamins and minerals. Particularly in the winter months.

Eat seasonal foods. To get the most nutrients out of fruits and vegetables, buy seasonal produce. This way you’ll save money while providing yourself with proper vitamins, minerals, and other undegraded nutrients found in fresh foods.

Replace processed foods with fresh ones. Research autumn recipes to incorporate healthier ingredients with each dish you prepare. Avoid stocking up on foods packed with starches, refined sugars, and large amounts of carbohydrates. You want to prevent excessive weight gain throughout the holiday season. 

Reducing your caffeine consumption. Caffeine is a stimulant and can make your anxiety worse, and even lead to panic attacks. If you struggle with anxiety, it is a good idea to reduce the caffeine you consume in a day.

5. Include Using a Daily Planner

Planning out your life, or at least your day can also be useful as part of your morning routine. Owning your time will reduce stress and give you achievable, realistic goals, which make a positive impact on your life.

Dedicate a separate section to listing and tracking the progress of all things you have to do in preparation for the festivities. This will serve you as a massive Christmas stress buster!

Get a daily planner and use at least the monthly and weekly calendar pages. Each morning look at what is on the schedule for the day ahead. Make any notes or to-do lists accordingly.

6. Journal Every Day

Journaling is a great tool for anxiety and stress relief. Recording your thoughts and thought processes on paper is useful for dealing with the overwhelm. It helps to prioritize and clear your mind.

Spend 15-20 minutes a day writing in your journal. You can write about anything that comes to mind, without worrying about linguistic rules.

7. Express Gratitude

Being more grateful for the good things in your life will allow you to be more positive. Subsequently, this positivity will be reflected in other areas of your life as well.

Try to add gratitude practice to your fall morning routine. For example, writing down what you are grateful for in a journal, or even in your daily planner. You can also repeat gratitude mantras in the morning as part of your morning routine.

After all, Christmas should be a time of peace and reflection. The term Christmas stress shouldn’t even exist!

8. Declutter Everything

Think of the fall season as the second spring of the year. Use it as an opportunity to declutter your home. Take a little time to clean your home and really declutter your workspace, bedrooms, and living areas. Clutter can create a chaotic and stress-induced mindset, which is the last thing you want.

9. Relaxation

Self-care in the fall is all about planning for some time alone and doing things for yourself. Things and activities that will support your health and wellbeing, both mental and physical, despite being insanely busy.

There is a wide range of activities in the fall and other times of the year. But for this season, here are a few things to focus on:

Arrange a lot of downtime. If you are constantly too busy, then you are likely to develop anxiety and burnout. Busyness often causes us not to take breaks, lack sleep, and eat poorly, or not eat at all. And if you fail to rest, anxiety and stress won’t be far behind. This, in turn, can lead to physical problems for your body as your immune system is depleted. It’s a vicious cycle.

So make sure to arrange a lot of downtime by taking time to relax at home. Maybe with your favorite hobby, a favourite book or by visiting a day spa for a massage. You should maintain a regular sleeping schedule to have at least seven hours of rest each night. 

Meditate. Meditating or practicing mindfulness can also be great for your mind and body. You will relax and try to clear your mind during meditative practice, so this requires some quiet in your home.

Do something you have been putting off. Beginning a new routine in the fall is also a great time to do something you’ve been putting off. Maybe there is a local fitness class you have wanted to try? Or a book you really want to read that is sitting on your desk? Take the time to plan these activities into your daily routine this fall.

Trying a creative activity. There are many creative activities that allow you a few minutes of quiet time each day. Just focus on your skills and silence the frantic mind. This might be writing (in a journal or otherwise), painting, knitting, crocheting, drawing, and so much more. It is also a great time to try something new.

10. Get Better Sleep

As the days are shorter, adjust your bedtime and the time you typically wind down to accommodate for outdoor changes.

Getting good sleep can reduce your stress, help with anxiety, and even boost your productivity.

Try to focus on getting better sleep in healthy, natural ways. Instead of taking meds for sleeping, try melatonin or using an essential oil diffuser at night.

Take a bath before bedtime to relax and read in bed instead of watching TV.

Keep your phone turned off if you can. This will help keep you from being up later than you should.

Here are some helpful tips for getting better sleep in the fall season.

Cut back on stimulants before bed. This is a bad habit that far too many people do, without realizing it is harming their sleep. Stimulants like alcohol, caffeine, and sugar can all keep you energized well after bedtime. Start gradually skipping the candy bar in the afternoon, dessert after dinner, and coffee or tea before bed. Hopefully, this should help you to get more restful nights.

Turn everything off before bed. If you tend to wake up multiple times a night, the problem might not be the ability to fall asleep in itself. The issue might be staying asleep or getting back to sleep. This might be from your TV, phone, and other electronics being on all night long.

Falling asleep while watching TV is detrimental to the quality of your sleep. Even if your TV goes off automatically after a certain period of time. The glare and the noise could keep you from getting deep sleep before the TV turns off.

Stop using your phone at night. Similar to turning your TV off, you also want to keep your phone turned off if at all possible. If you use it for an alarm, consider turning it upside down, or switching to a standard alarm clock for your nightstand.

People have the habit of checking their phones every time they wake up. But all your notifications can alert your mind and keep you up thinking about it for far too long. Turn your phone off if you are able to.

Find a relaxing pre-bed activity. If you are still too energetic before bed, think of a quiet and relaxing activity that will make you sleepy. Reading a book, taking a hot bath, listening to soft music while turning on your essential oil diffuser. Or a creative activity like using an adult coloring book. These are simple to add to your nighttime routine and make such a big difference.

11. Reduce and Eliminate Stress Triggers

Stress can keep you up at night overthinking the day’s tasks and making plans for the following morning. Reducing and eliminating stress triggers is a must when you want to guarantee a better night’s sleep.

What causes your stress? Going to bed thinking about problems will almost guarantee a bad night’s sleep. Or a sleepless night altogether. It’s important to deal with troublesome issues but not before bed.

To relieve your mind and gain a sense of control, write about your burning concerns in your journal. This should be part of your morning routine. Consider the root cause of your stress. Then work on individual issues to reduce the stress.

Remain proactive when battling stress triggers and face them head-on. It’s better than allowing them to simmer in your mind and resurface as anxiety, depression, and isolation. 

What triggers your stress? Identify stress triggers that occur during work, with family, and even while handling personal responsibilities. Understanding stress triggers that keep you awake at night is the first step to improving everyday habits and finding peace of mind.

If nothing helps. If you are unable to change or improve your stress triggers, consider working together with a therapist or counselor. Therapists and counselors understand anxiety and create plans of action that are designed for each client individually. 

12. Embrace Fall, Instead of Dreading it

Yes, the cold season can be hard on your mental health with drastic changes in weather, the amount of light you are exposed to, and your schedule in general.

To embrace fall, add in some activities each day that remind you of the things you LOVE about the season.

For example, some spiced chai tea in the morning, walking in the forest, going apple picking over the weekend with your kids. Or writing in a fall-themed journal every day.

Plan some fun activities. This fall season, you can lower your stress by planning some fun activities for your family or friends. But make sure they focus more on relaxation. Instead of trying to fill your schedule with as much as possible, which requires a lot of effort, think about fun and relaxing activities. Like going apple picking, enjoying a local fall festival with your family, or having a girl’s night with friends.

Enjoy nature in all its Autumn glory. Sometimes, you want to step a little out of your comfort zone and enjoy new things. This can be something you do alone or with loved ones and friends. One excellent thing to do in the fall is to enjoy nature and get outdoors for new (or beloved) activities.

And, finally…

13. Reduce Your Expectations and Enjoy Your Christmas Without Stress

It is important to remain realistic about the holiday season. Because most individuals don’t have the types of lives that are depicted in many movies.

You don’t need to have a picture-perfect home. You don’t need to bake an assortment of cookies and pies from scratch. And you don’t need to buy expensive presents.

Rather, focus on making a few family holiday memories, but don’t expect to have everything looking like a magazine cover. 

@Feature Photo by Vlad Chețan from Pexels

Disclaimer:

This article was written by Zuzana Halliwell. I am not a doctor or health professional and cannot be held liable for the information written here. This article is meant to provide information about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. The content is based on my own personal experience and on information provided by medical professionals that is available to the public. It is not intended to provide medical advice. Do not use it as an alternative to seeking help from a medical professional.