Podcast with Ashley and Ellen on How to Have a Stress Free Holiday

How to Have a Stress Free Holiday: 7 Practical Tips for Christian Women

  • 00:03 — Intro
  • 00:59 — Challenge 1: Balancing Family Expectations
  • 05:39 — Challenge 2: Loneliness & Being Away from Family
  • 10:57 — Challenge 3: Financial Stress During the Holidays
  • 17:18 — Challenge 4: Social Pressures & Boundaries (Ellen)
  • 21:18 — Challenge 5: Navigating Relationship Dynamics (Ellen)
  • 25:21 — Challenge 6: Keeping Faith Central (Ellen)
  • 30:07 — What’s Included & Other Holiday Resources (Ashley)
  • 31:05 — Closing Encouragement (Ellen)

Why the Holidays Feel So Overwhelming for Christian Women and How to Have a Stress Free Holiday:

The holiday season invites us to give thanks and celebrate Christ’s birth, yet many of us carry quiet pressure—family expectations, financial strain, social commitments, and the pull to “get it all perfect.

The good news? You can experience a meaningful, Christ-centered holiday without burning out. Here’s how to have a stress free holiday.

1. Balance Family Expectations Without Losing Your Peace

How to Have a Stress Free Holiday Challenge 1: Young adults starting their own traditions often feel torn between family expectations and their desire to create new memories. The pressure to host the “perfect” gathering can feel crushing.

Ashley’s Wisdom: “A Christ-centered holiday with loved ones matters more than perfection.”

Practical Steps:

  • Identify what truly matters to your immediate family
  • Communicate openly with extended family about your plans and limitations
  • Set realistic goals—not every tradition needs to happen every year
  • Remember: Quality time with loved ones trumps Pinterest-perfect decorations

Biblical Foundation: When decisions need to be made, choose peace over perfection.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”

-Colossians 3:15

2. Combat Holiday Loneliness Through Biblical Community

How to Have a Stress Free Holiday Challenge 2: Whether separated by distance, loss, or life circumstances, many women experience deep loneliness during the holidays—a season that seems to magnify what’s missing.

Ashley’s Approach: Acknowledge and accept these feelings rather than suppressing them. Loneliness is real, and God sees your heartache.

Practical Steps:

  • Reach out to your church family—don’t wait for others to come to you
  • Volunteer at church events or community outreach programs
  • Host a “Friendsgiving” for others who might be alone
  • Join a small group or Bible study for connection

Biblical Foundation: The church is designed to be your spiritual family, especially during difficult seasons.

“God sets the lonely in families.”

-Psalm 68:6

3. Manage Holiday Financial Stress with Wisdom and Creativity

How to Have a Stress Free Holiday Challenge 3: Between hosting meals, purchasing gifts, and decorating, holiday expenses add up quickly—often leading to January debt and regret.

Ashley’s Strategy: Set a clear budget before you spend a single dollar, then get creative within those boundaries.

Practical Steps:

  • Determine your total holiday budget (gifts, food, decor, travel)
  • Consider handmade gifts, baked goods, or “experience” gifts
  • Ask guests to contribute a dish for holiday meals (potluck style)
  • Shop sales and use cashback apps
  • Suggest family gift exchanges (drawing names) instead of buying for everyone

Biblical Foundation: Financial peace honors God and protects your family from unnecessary stress.

“The borrower is slave to the lender.”

-Proverbs 22:7
How to Have a Stress Free Holiday Woman is resting with cup of hot drink and book near the fireplace

4. Master Holiday Time Management Before Chaos Strikes

How to Have a Stress Free Holiday Challenge 4: Between regular responsibilities and added holiday activities, many women feel like they’re drowning in their to-do lists.

Ellen and Ashley’s Solution on How to Have A Stress Free Holiday: Intentional planning prevents last-minute panic.

Practical Steps:

  • Use a master calendar for all family commitments
  • Create specific checklists (shopping, meal prep, decorating, wrapping)
  • Prep early: Address Christmas cards in November, shop before December
  • Schedule margin—don’t book every available day
  • Learn to say “no” to non-essential activities

Biblical Foundation:

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.”

-Ephesians 5:15-16

5. Navigate Social Pressures with Healthy Boundaries

How to Have a Stress Free Holiday Challenge 5: Social media showcases everyone’s “perfect” holiday moments, while in-person gatherings can drain your energy. The pressure to attend every event and post every moment creates anxiety.

Ashley’s Advice: Honesty and boundaries aren’t selfish—they’re necessary for your wellbeing.

Practical Steps:

  • Be honest with yourself about your emotional capacity
  • Limit social media if it triggers comparison or inadequacy
  • It’s okay to decline invitations or leave events early
  • Don’t feel obligated to document everything online
  • Prioritize gatherings that truly nourish you

Biblical Foundation:

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

-Proverbs 4:23
Stress Free Holiday

6. Honor Christ in Complex Family Relationships

How to Have a Stress Free Holiday Challenge 6: Blended families, estranged relatives, theological differences, and past hurts can make holiday gatherings emotionally exhausting.

Ashley’s Perspective: While every situation is unique, seek to honor Christ in every relationship—even difficult ones.

Practical Steps:

  • Pray specifically for challenging relationships before gatherings
  • Set realistic expectations (one gathering won’t heal years of dysfunction)
  • Focus on what you can control: your attitude and responses
  • Value the time you do have together as God’s gift
  • Extend grace while also maintaining healthy boundaries

Biblical Foundation:

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

-Romans 12:18

7. Keep Christ at the Center Amid Holiday Distractions

How to Have a Stress Free Holiday Challenge 7: Between shopping, decorating, baking, and socializing, Jesus can become a footnote in the season celebrating His birth.

Ashley’s Recommendation: Intentionality is everything. Without a plan to prioritize Christ, the urgent will always crowd out the important.

Practical Steps:

  • Increase your prayer time during November and December
  • Start each day reflecting on one of God’s blessings
  • Read the Christmas story together as a family (Luke 2, Matthew 1-2)
  • Incorporate Christ-centered activities and devotionals
  • Create Advent traditions that point to Jesus
  • Use resources like “Harvesting Gratitude” (available at coffeeandbibletime.com/shop) for family devotionals and crafts

Biblical Foundation:

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

-Matthew 6:33

Your Invitation to a Christ-Centered Holiday

The holidays will always bring challenges alongside joys. But by setting boundaries, seeking support from your church family, and intentionally keeping Christ at the center, you can experience the peace and purpose God intends for this season.

You don’t have to do it all. You don’t have to be perfect. You just need to be faithful with what God has placed in your hands.

Ready for more Christ-centered holiday guidance?

From our family to yours, we’re praying for a meaningful, joyful, and Christ-centered holiday season.

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