How to Reduce Holiday Stress: Finding Peace and Joy This Christmas

The holiday season is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, right? But if we’re being honest, for many of us, it feels more like a whirlwind of stress, overspending, and exhaustion. Between family gatherings, gift shopping, school events, and endless to-do lists, it’s easy to feel more frazzled than festive. Let’s jump in and learn how to reduce holiday stress!

Here’s the good news—you don’t have to spend another holiday season running on fumes. As a Christian Life Coach, I want to help you reduce holiday stress and embrace peace, joy, and faith this season.

In this blog, I’m sharing 9 practical ways to reduce holiday stress, including how to simplify your traditions, set boundaries, and keep Jesus at the center of it all. Plus, I’ll let you in on my own holiday mishaps (including my Elf on the Shelf journey—spoiler alert: perfection is overrated).

So take a deep breath, grab your favorite cozy drink, and let’s talk about how to make this season more peaceful and meaningful.

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1. Simplify the Season

Do you ever make things harder than they need to be? Because, same.

A few weeks ago, a friend and I had this brilliant idea to DIY Pinterest-worthy gingerbread doormats. So, we went to Hobby Lobby, but they were completely out of blank doormats. Instead, we found pre-made ones that were already adorable—and they were 50% off!

We looked at each other and just laughed. The old us would have driven to three more stores, spent way too much money on supplies, and stressed over making them perfect. But instead, we simplified. We bought the cute mats and enjoyed crafting Christmas tags instead. And you know what? It was so much more fun.

Lesson learned? Sometimes we overcomplicate things that could be simple. If we want peace, we have to get out of our own way and enjoy life sometimes.

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2. Let Go of Perfection

The pressure to create a perfect holiday can steal your joy before the season even begins.

I learned this firsthand after my divorce when I had to start sharing the holidays with my daughters. The first Christmas Day they weren’t with me, I stayed in bed all day, feeling heartbroken. But a couple of years later, I realized something… Christmas didn’t have to be on December 25th.

One year, when my girls came home the day after Christmas, I surprised them with a trip to Disneyland. Was it perfect? Nope. (Side note: never go to Disneyland the week after Christmas—rookie mistake, it’s chaos! 😂) But it was ours, and that’s what made it special.

The takeaway? Your family doesn’t need a picture-perfect holiday. They need you—present and joyful.

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3. Set Boundaries

Raise your hand if you’ve ever said “yes” to something out of guilt. 🙋‍♀️

The holidays are filled with invitations, expectations, and pressures to do all the things. But let me remind you: your peace matters. You don’t have to attend every party, bake 100 homemade cookies, or say yes to things that drain you.

One year, when my girls were in elementary school, a group of moms and I had a tradition of baking hundreds of cookies for the teachers. I loved the idea, but life was life-ing that year. So, I showed up with store-bought cookies (gasp!).

You know what happened? Instead of judging me, the other moms looked at my cookies and said, “Wait… why didn’t we think of that?”

Moral of the story? It’s okay to say no. It’s okay to simplify. And it’s definitely okay to buy the cookies.

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4. Create a Holiday Budget

Nothing sucks the joy out of Christmas like money stress.

Before the spending frenzy begins, set a realistic holiday budget—and stick to it. Gifts don’t have to be expensive to be meaningful. Some of my favorite Christmas memories with my girls weren’t about the presents at all. They were about:
🎄 Baking cookies together (messy but fun!)
🎄 Laughing at our Elf on the Shelf’s “lazy nights”
🎄 Watching Christmas movies in our pajamas

Ask yourself: Is this purchase adding to the joy of the season or just adding to my stress? If it’s the latter, let it go.

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5. Prioritize Self-Care

Moms, we put ourselves last way too often—especially during the holidays.

Here’s a permission slip: You matter, too. Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish; it’s necessary.

💆‍♀️ Take a break.
☕ Enjoy a quiet cup of tea.
🚶‍♀️ Go for a walk and breathe in the fresh air.

When you take care of yourself, you’re better able to show up with love and joy for your family.

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6. Focus on What Matters

One year, I was so stressed about making my Christmas dinner table look magazine-worthy. Then my youngest daughter looked at me and said:

“Mom, I just like that we’re all here.”

Boom. Perspective reset.

No one will remember if the napkins matched. What they will remember are the laughs around the table and the love they felt. Focus on that.

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7. Simplify Traditions

Traditions should bring joy, not exhaustion.

Our Elf on the Shelf, “Elf Elf,” used to be a full-time job. By year three, I was over it. So, we changed things up. Now, my daughters help move Elf Elf, and we just have fun with it—zero pressure.

If a tradition is stressing you out, it’s okay to simplify or even let it go. Do what works for your family, not what Pinterest says you “should” do.

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8. Strengthen Your Faith

The holidays aren’t just about gifts and gatherings—they’re about celebrating the birth of Jesus.

One of my favorite ways to keep Christ at the center is by reading the Gospel of Luke during Advent. There are 24 chapters, so you can read one each day leading up to Christmas.

Feeling behind? No worries—read at your own pace. The goal isn’t to create more stress; it’s to focus on Him.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.” – Romans 15:13

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9. Ask for Help

You don’t have to do it all alone.

Delegate tasks. Let your kids help wrap gifts. Ask your spouse or friends for support. The holidays are about community—let people be there for you.

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Final Thoughts

This Christmas, let’s trade perfection for presence. Let’s choose peace over pressure. And most importantly, let’s remember that the best gift we can give is our love, joy, and presence.

Feeling overwhelmed? I’d love to help! Let’s chat about how to reduce stress and step into more joy this season.

Next Steps:
✨ Book a FREE Breakthrough Session with me: Click here
✨ Join my FREE Facebook community
✨ Download my Ultimate Guide to Go From Stuck to Empowered

Merry Christmas, friend. Here’s to a season filled with joy, peace, and Jesus. 🎄❤️

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