The holiday season is one of my favorite times of year, but with it can bring a lot of holiday stress. Even though we're all expected to "be merry & bright", it can be a challenging time for a lot of people. No matter what holiday you celebrate, we're all affected by the stress of the season in one way or another.

There are so many wonderful things to enjoy during the holidays. Don't let the stress of seeing your family or buying everyone gifts kill your spirit.

In this episode I share:

* Causes of holiday stress & how to handle it* The benefits of dropping expectations* Ways to create joy* How to deal with triggers & seeing family* Advice for giving the best gifts* Tips for making time for YOU & self-care* A powerful lesson I learned one Christmas* A guided meditation to help ease stress

Since this season is all about giving, don't forget to make time to give back to yourself & others! That might mean you have to amplify your self-care routine, but please don't put yourself on the back burner.

Simple ways to manage holiday stress:

* Go for a walk or hike* Meditate (I recommend Insight Timer for free guided meditations, click here to start listening)* Manage sweets & caffeine intake* Get extra sleep* Take a bath* Cook or bake to your favorite holiday music* Call a family member or friend* Do a random act of kindness

If you listen to this episode during COVID times, I'd love to hear about what new traditions you're doing this year to make the most of it! DM me on Instagram or tag me in a story @emilysiero I know this year is different, and I'm sad I can't be with all of my family, but I think embracing the change & trying new traditions is the best way to deal.

If you enjoyed this episode, Share with me on Instagram @emilysiero & tag me in a screenshot of you listening. Share it with a friend, family member, or co-worker. And don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes to help support the show!

Episode Music Credit:

Jingle Bells 7 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://incompetech.com/