21 Holiday Stress Relief Tips You Need Right Now

The holiday season has arrived! Conquer you stress with these 21 relief tips and start enjoying holidays like never before.

1. Create a list

If you want to enjoy the holiday season it all starts with creating a list. Not only does it help save time and money, it also decreases the chances of surprises that get us stressed out.

2. Get on Pinterest

Pinterest is the go to place for inspiration. If you are looking for ideas on holiday entertaining, decor, tablescapes, quick and easy recipes Pinterest will be your new BFF. Not only will it help you stay organized but will help you transition all your decor ideas from fall to Halloween, then Thanksgiving and lastly to Christmas.

3. Have a potluck party

Who says you have to do it all. Potluck parties are a great way to reduce stress because everyone pitches in. All you have to do is create a guest list and then give your guests some ideas on what to bring. This will ensure that you don't have a bunch of people bringing the same dish.

4. Avoid lineups

There's a reason why online shopping makes sense. Do you really want to stand in line for hours and deal with all the stress that comes with holiday shopping? Make sure you sign up for Pure Fiji's newsletter so you never miss a deal!

5. Create a self-care survival kit

One of the best gifts you can give yourself this holiday season is a self-care survival kit. "Me time" is not being selfish. Remember...you can't give which you don't have. Create a basket filled with all of your favorite things to help you heal your body, mind, and soul.

6. Don't over commit

Do you ever find yourself wanting to please everybody? Avoid making too many commitments. At some point it's impossible to attend every social gathering without feeling overwhelmed. You don't need to attend every party and you certainly don't need to host several parties. Only say yes to what you can and say ba bye to stress.

7. Watch your favorite holiday movie

Snuggle up with your loved ones and or stay in one night by yourself to watch your fave holiday movie on a snowy day and let the stress melt away.

8. Spray your towels

Don't you just dread getting out of the shower on a cold morning? Instead, throw your towel in the dryer before you hop in the shower and come out to a warm soft towel to wrap yourself in. Spray your towel with Pure Fiji's Hydrating Body Mist that comes in the following tropical infusions: coconut, coconut milk and honey, mango, orange blossom, starfruit or white ginger lily. Heavenly!

9. Go on a Christmas light tour

Who doesn't like twinkling lights? Uplift your mood by taking a stroll around your neighborhood or try a Christmas light tour in your city to see all the festive decorations people put up for the holidays. You don't need to drag the whole family along either. It's truly one of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit.

10. Enjoy the food

Eat, drink and be merry! This is one of the wonderful things about the holidays. Avoid stressing yourself out and enjoy life's "guilty" pleasures. There's no point stressing out about what you can or cannot have. Make the most of it and then go on a healthy cleanse or detox program when the festivities are over. Your skin will love you for it.

11. Start a bullet journal

A bullet journal is one of the best methods for calming down. It allows you to pour all your thoughts and feelings on paper instead of keeping them in your head. When you are faced with a problem having it written on paper allows you to think deeply on it and hopefully find a solution easier. Plus you can see in black and white what is really going on in your heart and head.

12. Put on your ice skates

It's sometimes impossible to see every single friend during the holidays. For something different maybe grab a friend and go ice skating. (Wear protection and watch for speeding kids!) It's the best way to combine fitness and friendship.

13. Treat yourself to a spa treatment

If you need some time away from the crowds to melt those stress knots go for a facial, a massage, or a mani / pedi. Don't wait for someone to give you a gift certificate. End the holiday season with a gift for yourself from you.

RELATED: DIY Spa Day at Home

14. Make a decadent holiday drink

From pumpkin lattes and eggnog to hot cocoas, holiday drinks are perfect for when you need to take a moment to unwind.

15. Call, don't text

Make someone feel special by calling a friend that you haven't spoken to this past year. You'll be surprised what a call can mean to someone. You just never know how that can save your day. And guess what? When you make someone else feel good, you feel good too. It's free and cost you nothing but a few minutes of your time.

16. Organize your skin care products

Are you still using the same products you used during the summer months? You may not realize this but when the leaves change color so does your skin.

17. Make a personalized gift

Feeling stressed? Get in the DIY project mode. Believe it or not making your own gifts can be relaxing. Why not make a personalized ornament, card, or spa gifts for those who truly mean the world to you. People love handmade gifts, especially if it's from you. Go on Pinterest and explore amazing ideas from other bloggers and you'll see how much fun it is. Beauty mists are so popular on Pinterest! Here's a DIY recipe you can easily make at home.

DIY Beauty Mist for Clear Skin

Ingredients:

2 tsp pink himilayan sea salt
1 cup peppermint tea
½ tsp tea tree oil
2 drops of lavender essential oil
2 drops of lemongrass essential oil

Instructions:

Brew a cup of peppermint tea.
Add sea salt to the tea while it's still hot and mix until salt is disolved.
When sea salt mixture has cooled down, mix tea tree oil and essential oils.
Pour mixture into a spray glass bottle.
Spray on affected areas on face and body.

Tips:

For those who have sensitive cut the ingredients in half with the exception of the peppermint tea. Lasts for a week if stored in the fridge.

Why you'll love this face mist:

Tea tree: helps manage active acne breakouts may help reduce their severity and risk of scarring.
Sea salt: natural antiseptic and destroys acne-causing bacteria on the skin. Himalayan salt will help with that soaks up excess sebum and leaves your skin feeling clean and soft. Balances your skin's pH which will keep away acne and breakouts.
Peppermint essential oil: it soothes the irritated skin, prevents the bacterial growth that causes acne and reduces the oil production of the skin.
Lemongrass essential oil: also has unique antifungal, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties that allows it to be an amazing astringent. The combination of these effects are essential to fighting the bacteria that causes acne.
Lavender: has profound benefits on your skin because of its antimicrobial and antioxidant characteristics. It soothes and nourishes the skin ó treating acne, healing dry skin, and reducing the appearance of dark spots and scars caused by acne.

18. Cozy up in your PJ's

The winter months can get pretty chilly. Cozy up with your favorite pajamas, fuzzy socks, maybe even your cat; grab a book coupled with a warm holiday drinkÖ.what stress?

19. Make your home smell like the holidays

Scents can take us back to the past. When you get a whiff of cinnamon you may think of your grandma's cinnamon rolls. These nostalgic ties aren't just a coincidence -- there's actually science behind why we cherish these aromas. Having a festive scent hit you as soon as you walk in a room can be so relaxing and invigorating. So why not make your own potpourri? Potpourris are also a great way to decorate a table and they deodorize any room instantly. Have some leftovers? Give them as gifts! Just put it in a mason jar or cellophane gift bag, tie it with a ribbon, add a printable gift tag, and you've got a gorgeous, thoughtful gift.

Here's what you can put in your potpourri. You decide how much you want to add. There is no right or wrong.

Dried apple slices
Dried orange slices
Nuts with shell
Cinnamon sticks
Whole cloves
Juniper berries
Dried rose hips
Bay leaves
Pine cones
Essential oils: cedar wood, clove, orange and pine are all great together (optional)
Mason jar

Remember, you don't need exact measurements for this recipe. It's really just about layering each of the ingredients until you get to the top. You can start with the orange slices, then add a few pieces of the nuts with shells, then the cinnamon sticks, cloves and so forth. The essential oils are also optional since the dried fruits and spices are quite fragrant on its own.

Clever tip: Dried potpourris can last for a few months. Alternatively boil 2 cups water, add potpourri and reduce to a simmer for one-time use. Get a little extra life out of your dried potpourri by using the stovetop method before disposing of it.

20. Make your own playlist

Music is good for the soul. So true isn't it? Music can be so much fun but healing and uplifting at the same time. You don't need to just play Christmas songs; after all you hear them everywhere which can drive you a little crazy at times. Create your own playlist to get you in the festive spirit.

21. Get some Vitamin D

Depending where you live it's sometimes a challenge to get the natural vitamin D that your body needs. Despite the ability to get vitamin D from food and the sun, an estimated 40%-75% of people are deficient. The amount of vitamin D you need depends on many factors such as; age, race, latitude, season, sun exposure, clothing and more. Recommendations from the US Institute of Medicine suggest that an average daily intake of 400ñ800 IU, or 10ñ20 micrograms, is adequate for 97.5% of individuals.

Take some time to reflect on everything big and small that happened throughout the year, and practice gratefulness. With a little regular self-care during the holidays more joy and health will come your way. The more time you take to care of yourself the more you can joyfully give to others during this special time of year. By next year, self-care will become a habit and not something you have to purposefully think about. Cheers from Pure Fiji!