Stress During the Holidays

Many look forward to the holiday season as it comes with warm fuzzy feelings from snuggling up by the fire with a hot cocoa in hand, dressed in cozy pajamas, and your favorite movie playing in the background. However, these wonderful feelings could be accompanied by extreme stressors. Between family obligations, buying presents, cooking food, missing loved ones, traveling, and financial burdens, the holiday season can be one of the most stressful times of the year. Stress makes it more difficult to complete necessary tasks and impacts many different parts of our lives. It can cause trouble sleeping, irritability, headaches, increased anxiety, and worst of all, make you a Scrooge. It may feel as if the holiday stress is inevitable and you can’t do anything to help it, but burnout can quickly creep up on us, making it extremely important to focus on combatting our stress. If we take the time to address the stress it could make your holiday season more enjoyable and less dreaded.

Plan Early and Often

Easing the stress could begin with planning early and often. If we get our planning out of the way early in the season, we would have less to worry about when it comes to scheduling. Pull out a calendar in early November and do what you can, not all things can always be planned ahead, but do your best to have a rough draft of your plans if possible.

Set Boundaries

Another way to help mental health decline during the holiday season is to put yourself and your family first and know when to say “no.” It is important to stay firm on your boundaries as this will allow you to rest when needed and can help you be more prepared for other obligations. If we pack our schedules to the max, we will inevitably stretch ourselves too thin, making it impossible to attack each plan with 100% effort. If we say “no” when necessary, each task will hold more meaning and you will be able to expend more effort on tasks. It is understandable that it often feels like you do not have the ability to say no as it is an unspoken rule to say yes to family plans, but it is more important to do what is best for you and your family.

Allow time for yourself

With the holiday season being packed with busy weekends and an overall increased workload, it is more important than ever to relax when you can. Once you put the kids to bed, get home from work, or when you get a free minute throughout the day, it is essential to take some sort of break. It can look like whatever you need, it could be taking a nap, watching a movie, or just simply spending time alone. Whatever your time for yourself looks like, it is important to take it, as it will help you to recharge and be ready for the stress ahead.

If dealing with holiday stress has progressed to the point that you are feeling overwhelmed or trapped, it may be time to talk with your healthcare provider or a mental health professional. Take care this holiday season. Be patient, be gentle, and be kind to yourself. For more on stress management checkout Fill up your tank: tips for managing stress.