Tis The Season To De-Stress
It's probably no surprise that Affirm’s annual consumer spending report found our top holiday stressors are finances and time spent with family 😬.
If showing up as the grinch is not what you’re trying to do this season, here's what you can do:
Schedule time off and time to relax
American’s are notorious for not taking time off. Don’t let your PTO expire, use it to get time in to relax and prioritize self-care. Check out @chelseazeferina break down how to get the most time off with your remaining PTO this year.
Literally, calendar block and schedule time during the week to de-stress so that nothing else gets in the way of it. Know your feel good style and de-stress practices. Whether it’s keeping your space clean and organized or getting a massage mid-week, prioritize doing the things that help you to best manage your stress. If you don’t know your feel good style, take the quiz here.
Lower your expectations and say no to get togethers if you’re not feeling up to it
It’s easy to get caught up in how we want the holidays to be, especially in our relationships with our family, but rarely do things go exactly as we imagine they will. Go into social situations with zero expectations and just try to enjoy yourself.
It's also totally ok to say no to social events and get togethers if you’re not feeling up to it. Politely decline and you could even suggest getting together after the holidays when things slow down.
Less presents, more presence
Don’t let the pressure of buying gifts for everyone you know get a head of your financial wellbeing. Have an honest conversation with your family and friends about not exchanging gifts this year and your reasoning for it. Sometimes these conversations can feel awkward at first, but you may be pleasantly surprised by their reaction and they may feel relief from the pressure as well. Suggest spending time together instead decorating, cooking dinner, or going for a hike or walk.
If you do plan on buying gifts, try to get them early so you’re not stressed trying to figure out what to buy last minute. Try to have a few universal gifts on hand in case you need them - coffee, chocolate, candles, hot sauce - things anyone would enjoy receiving.
Looking for more tips to self-care this season and better handle your family stressors, get some more advice from two of our favorite self-care Tiktokers: