The holiday season brings on stresses that are unavoidable, it helps to have methods in place to manage stress so we can minimize the impact it has on our daily life. Before you reach for a glass bottle of wine to cope with hearing White Christmas a hundred times in two hours, think of using your trusty planner for some needed self-care. Also, I won’t judge you if you still bring the wine – I’ll grab the glasses.
It might seem painfully obvious, but I’m gonna say it anyway because it’s just that good. You can minimize stress with a planner by… Drumroll!… using it to plan. I know, you never would’ve guessed. I use a planner for minimizing stress all year, however it becomes a top priority during busy times, such as the holidays. It’s like having a personal storage unit for your thoughts, so you can put more focus on what brings you joy. It’s actually pure magic.
Here’s some ideas to get you started.
- Meal plan
- Grocery list
- List of meal ideas
- List of gift ideas
- Shopping lists
- “Must get done” list
- “It can wait” list
- Scheduled appointments
- Blocks off time for self-care
- Daily tasks
- Cleaning tasks
- Mood tracker
- Sleeping tracker
- Budget goal
You can also use your planner as journal. Trust me, it is better to get it all out on the personal pages of your planner (or journal), than to word vomit on your co-worker who only wanted to know what time you were taking lunch. I highly suggest freeform, unedited writing, but there are plenty of journal prompts online, if you need a starting point.
During the holidays, it’s important to relax and reduce stress. A planner can be a great tool to unwind and get creative. Grab your favorite drink, light a candle, and put on some music or watch a show. Gather your favorite art supplies and let your creativity flow on the pages of your planner. You don’t need to be skilled at drawing or decorating; the goal is to focus your mind on the activity and relax.
I hope you are able to use some of these ideas or, at the very least, found some inspiration to start a relaxing, cozy, less stressful holiday season!
Do you use your planner to manage stress? If so, I’d love to hear about it! Comment below or email me at infoinkyplans@gmail.com.
Used pictures from Vecteezy