How to Avoid Holiday Burnout

Okay, I know it is not Halloween yet, but we are going to discuss the holidays. Now, before you think I am losing it hear me out. While the holidays are a month+ away, now is when you should be setting your budget as well as deciding that you can feasibly attend. 

You know how it is when you are a nurse, there are alot of parties and celebrations. These can start to become really expensive when you are expected to contribute to everyone. Here are my simple tips for how to survive the holiday festivities this year. 

Start putting out feelers now. 

While people may give you a slight side eye at mentioning thanksgiving or christmas parties right now, it's worth asking. Especially if you are new at your place of employment. If you have been there a while and have an idea of the holiday festivities then you may be able to start your list. If you have a list you can decide which functions you will attend. 

This is important because not only can these functions add up financially but they can become exhausting as well. 

Set your boundaries. 

Between your work and your family, decide what you can reasonably attend without pushing yourself too hard or spending too much. If you do this early on you will be more likely to stick to your decision. If you wait, especially if you are someone who struggles to say no to others, you may overextend yourself. 

Set your budget.

An easy easy way to stick to your boundaries is by having a budget you stick to. There are only so many secret santas and potlucks you can attend! Even though potluck contributions tend to come from the grocery budget it doesn’t change the fact that you will still need to have increased funds.  Make sure when you set your holiday party budget you take into account food, gifts, decor, and clothing when needed. 

One of the reasons that I am suggesting you do these things is because in the early part of the season we view all the festivities with rose colored glasses and we just imagine how fun it will all be. But once the holidays are here, we quickly learn that it can be a little overwhelming. I think if you take a step back and consciously choose which parties or gift exchanges you will attend it will really give you the opportunity to enjoy yourself in the moment instead of being so concerned with the other 20 engagements you have scheduled on your calendar.