Happy Hacks for your Holiday Social Calendar
The holiday season is in full swing and with that can come parties and obligations galore. It’s fun to be festive and mix and mingle with family and friends, but if you are someone that doesn’t always look forward to social events, this time of the year can be really challenging. Heck, even if you love socializing, some days it’s just tough to juggle everything on your “To Do” list, so I’m sharing some of my tried and true Happy Hacks that help reduce stress and bring a bit more happy into any social event:
Don’t Over Commit to Social Events - don’t feel obligated to attend EVERY social event you are invited to, this can cause resentment. Instead, think about what situations you are comfortable in and attend events that reflect that. If you are someone who dreads social outings, I recommend only attending 1 or 2 events, and a little bit of preparation will go a long way in reducing party anxiety.
Deciding What Gift to Bring - gift giving can be tough, especially if you don’t know the host very well, or if it’s the friend that has everything, consider “gifts that give back.” There are loads of great gifts that can be purchased online, delivered right to your door, AND their proceeds benefit a charity. Googling the term “Gifts that Give Back” will provide you with lots of results!
Deciding What Food Item to Bring - take off the pressure of having to cook! Food can be store bought /or semi-homemade. If you are crunched for time, this is a MUST. If you are worried about budget, fear not because there are so many ways to get creative with food. My “Go To” sharable food item is the Taco Bell party pack for $13.99. Not to mention it’s a great conversation starter!
Prepare for Conversation - plan ahead by prepping for common talking points in advance and be a great listener, learning about someone else can be insightful and is a great natural way to create flow in a conversation.
Have an Exit Plan - going into an event with an exit strategy in place takes away the stress of feeling stuck and calms your brain. I’m a big believer in having a exit plan even if your plan is to be the last one to leave the party!
I hope these 5 Happy Hacks for a low stress holiday social calendar help you navigate the excitement of the season with a little less anxiety and a little more happy. They sure have been helpful for me, and I use these tips year round. If you have any suggestions or want to share how you beat the stress of the holiday season, I’d love to hear from you so please drop me a line!