Celebrate Stress-Free this Holiday Season!

There’s no doubt about it, 2020 has been a stressful year for most of us. Add on a busy holiday season on top of all the 2020 stress, and it could be a very hectic time. That said, we’ve put together some tips to help you relieve stress this holiday season and enjoy a little more time for relaxation.

1. Take a Break from the internet. Unplug, turn off the news, spend an hour off social media. Those things will always be there when you get back, and you won’t miss anything by taking a quick breather to refresh and reset. Use this time to disconnect and do something you love or take time for self-care. Not sure where to start? Try reading a book, taking a bubble bath, enjoying a face mask, going for a run or walk, enjoying a cup of coffee, checking in with a friend, etc. Whatever you choose, it’s amazing how a little time away from technology will improve your mood!
2. Find time to meditate. It might sound small, but meditating even for 5 minutes a day can give you clarity and focus. Try starting each day with quiet time or a guided meditation. Another form of meditating is journaling. Take time to organize your thoughts or even write out a list of daily gratitudes. When you take time to look for things you are thankful for each morning, it will become habit and eventually you will be finding happiness in your every day actions.
3. Focus on the things you CAN control. Sometimes it feel like a lot is out of our control, but one thing you can always control is how you react to any situation. Positivity takes practice, but when you actively think about finding the positives in any situation and reacting accordingly, it sets off a chain reaction that will affect your mood and attitude, even in the most stressful of times.
4. Do something kind for someone else. It’ll not only make their day, it will likely make yours too! Send someone a text to tell them you’re thinking of them. Hold open the door for someone else. Volunteer your time or services. Simple, small things add up and not only make a big difference in the community, but they make a big difference in your stress levels and mood, too!
5. Stay Organized and make lists. There’s power in the quotes “a cluttered space is a cluttered mind”, or on the other hand, “clean your space, clean your mind”. Go into this holiday season organized – take a few days to do a deep clean of your home. This will transform the space physically, and leave your mind free to think about other things. Once you have this complete, get mentally organized, as well. Start by making a priority list and a back up list. Your priority list is something you have to do ASAP, and the back up list is something you want to get done, but is not time critical. Work off of your priority list first, that way your most important to-do items get done first. Write it down so you can feel the power of physically crossing things off. This will help you feel organized and accomplished each day and ensure that your most important deadlines are not missed.
6. Make time for YOU. Whether it be alone time or family time, be sure to schedule out time for fun. Plan to attend a drive through light show, have a family game night, exercise, etc. Whatever you do, make sure to schedule it so that the season does not pass you by. Like Ferris Bueller once said “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it”.

Whatever you do, make sure you don’t miss it. Stop, look around, and make time to be thankful for what you have. We sure are thankful for YOU! From all of us here at AMPT Running, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. We are thankful for your continued support throughout this past year. THANK YOU for continuing to run with us!