Combatting Holiday Stress: Simple Tips

Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash

The holidays are a time of joy and celebration, but they can also be a source of considerable stress. Holidays can bring up family issues, financial problems, and heightened expectations. Fortunately, there are several practical steps that you can take to help combat holiday stress. In this article, we will present some simple tips on how to reduce anxiety during the festive season.

Tip 1: Prioritize Tasks

Planning ahead and staying organized can make a huge difference in managing the chaos that often accompanies the holiday season. Start by making a list of all tasks that need to be completed in order to prepare for the holidays. This should include gift shopping, meal preparation, and decorating – anything associated with your holiday routines! Once you have your list made, prioritize each task according to importance and urgency so you know which items need to get done first.

Breaking down these large tasks into smaller chunks will help ensure they don’t become overwhelming or forgotten as you move through other important things around the holidays. Finally, make sure you schedule a specific time to work on these tasks. This will allow you to accomplish your holiday goals in a timely fashion and leave you with more leisure time to enjoy the celebrations rather than stressing over them.

Tip 2: Exercise and Sleep

Exercise and Sleep are two key components to overall well-being, especially during the holiday season. From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, many of us feel overwhelmed and stressed out. With all the shopping, baking and parties that come with this time of year, it can be easy to forget about prioritizing your mental health. But taking care of yourself should always take top priority. Exercise and sleep are two of the best ways to combat holiday stress.

Physical activity is a natural stress reliever, releasing endorphins that make you feel good while helping reduce feelings of depression or anxiety. Even just going for a 30-minute walk each day can have huge benefits for your physical and mental health during the holidays. And don’t forget about getting enough quality sleep!

Tip 3: Manage Expectations

One of the most effective ways to combat this stress is to manage expectations. This means setting realistic goals for yourself, taking into account your available time and resources. When you clearly understand what is reasonable to achieve during the holidays, it's easier to keep things in perspective and stay focused on what matters most.

Creating realistic expectations for yourself can help you avoid disappointment or feeling overwhelmed by the holiday season. For instance, instead of aiming to host a large family gathering with all the bells and whistles, focus on creating smaller celebrations with close friends or family members that are manageable within your schedule and budget. Instead of focusing on achieving perfection in every aspect of life during this season, strive instead for contentment in living mindfully while enjoying meaningful moments together as a family or community.

Tip 4: Reach Out for Support

With parties, family events, travel plans, and more to juggle, it’s important to remember that it’s okay to reach out for help when you need it. If you re having difficulty balancing your schedule, enlist the help of family members or friends to assist with childcare, transportation, and other tasks. If you need additional support around the house, consider hiring someone to come in to help with cleaning or organizing.

From managing your schedule to carving out time for yourself, there are many practical steps you can take to make the holidays feel less daunting. That said, sometimes the best approach is seeking support from those around you - whether that’s friends or family who understand what you’re going through or professional counseling services if needed.

Tip 5: Acknowledge Feelings

From gift-buying to family gatherings, so many of the expectations around the holidays can lead to feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. One way to combat this stress is to learn how to acknowledge your feelings.

It’s important to recognize that feeling overwhelmed by the holiday season is completely normal. It’s okay if you don’t feel as jolly as everyone else may seem – take some time for yourself away from all the festivities and give yourself permission to have your own reactions and emotions. Once you do that, mentally accept whatever emotion comes up – whether it’s sadness, frustration, or even excitement! Next, ask yourself what you need. What do you really want to do or experience during this holiday season? This can be a hard question to answer, but if you take your time and really think about it, you ll probably find something that will make the season feel less stressful for you.

Conclusion:

The holiday season is meant to be enjoyed and not be a stressful time. With the busyness of work, family gatherings, and shopping for gifts, it can be hard to find time to relax and just enjoy the special moments of this season. Follow the tips above, and have the best of holiday seasons!

If you are struggling with stress and burnout, reach out to us. We are here to help!