Christmas & mental wellbeing

Managing Holiday Stress: Finding Peace During the Festive Season

Dear Friends,

I find that there is nothing more powerful than being candid about one's emotions in the last newsletter of the year: you know I am very optimistic and enthusiastic person. However, sometimes this time of the year feels really tough and not so relaxing or magical as many feel. I quite prefer the enthusiasm and expectation that comes with New Year. I write every year about Christmas guilt, as many of you know. Sometimes it's unpopular to say that you are not so keen on Christmas...But I know I am not the only one here... Why does this stress happen? A few ideas and points for reflection:

• As society, we are getting more and more frustrated with the sense of unfinished business: It is quite normal that some professional and personal stuff is inevitably transferred onto 2025.. I know, it would be ideal to have a clean inbox and everything perfectly tidy, without forgetting the out of office message in the email, not having to buy some last minute presents or so. But sometimes we don't reach that goal. And that is OK. Some people might not get my Christmas message by December 25th, but the important thing is: they will get it :) they are in my mind and heart, just perhaps not all at once.
• We are more frustrated by mistakes than ever before: "Oh, I should have ordered this on Internet ages ago", or "Oh, well I had a reminder in the calendar, how could I forgot about that apero"? It's OK. We don't have to be perfect this holiday season, and by making mental space, we will feel less exhausted and we will actually be more focused. Research keeps showing the benefits of the sweetness of doing nothing. Have a wonderful Italian croissant like me this week. This break allowed me to have space for a nice business idea I am developing.
• We are a distracted society, so we already juggle a lot during our usual day, and the juggling increases with the more gatherings and things we have on our plate at Christmas.

Now, the more scientific part of it: Why the Holidays Can Be Stressful

According to Harvard Medical School research, Our brain can me really more fatigues during the holidays because "Readying ourselves to face these stresses requires what professionals refer to as shifting set, that is, updating or shifting cognitive strategies to respond to the changes in our environment. The tough part is that shifting set, which can be hard for us at any point in the year, is particularly pervasive at the holidays.” Essentially our executive function in the brain is required extra work during the holidays! More juggling is there too: managing time, being attentive, switching focus, planning and organizing, and remembering details. Things we do every day but that we are even more bombed with during this time.

A recent Verywell Mind survey found that nearly 40% of people feel stressed during the holiday season, with the most common sources being financial strain, time pressures, and interpersonal relationships. I love how they have created Christmas coping tips for mental wellbeing.

Some tips and things I do to keep stress in check

Here are a few actionable tips to help you navigate the festive season with mindfulness:

1. Set Realistic Expectations

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that the holidays need to be picture-perfect as I said before. But these ideals can become overwhelming. Instead, ask yourself: What’s truly important to me? Focus on the moments and traditions that bring you joy, and let go of the rest. I like playing Bingo with my cousins and to just chat on Christmas day, it feels real. We don't have to do so much sometimes to be at ease.

2. Establish Boundaries

The holidays often come with numerous invitations and obligations. Remember, it’s okay to say no. Protect your time and energy by setting boundaries, whether it’s declining an event that feels too taxing or limiting the amount of time spent in challenging family dynamics. Your well-being comes first.

3. Simplify Gift-Giving

Gift-giving is a beautiful tradition, but it can also be a significant source of stress. Simplify this process: this year with our friends we have done Secret Santa again and on Christmas day there will be a gift lottery, so that each person brings only one present.

4. Carve Out Time for Yourself

During the holiday rush, self-care is often forgotten. Make time for small, meaningful rituals that ground you. Here are mine!

JOURNALING FOR SELF-CARE AND READING ONLY THE NEWSLETTERS THAT MAKE ME FEEL GOOD

I bought a new journal the minute I landed in Sicily, so that it would accompany me for the entire duration of the holidays, and I just take it with my in my bag. I write when something bothers me, when I have an idea or simply to note down some inspiring things I see around me. About reading now: Aside from the book I am reading now, which I highly recommend you, a newsletter I absolutely love is the Self-Love Rainbow by Dominee. It’s a collection of inspiring materials, prompts, and exercises that help you reconnect with yourself. During the holidays, I find it invaluable for my own self-care and reflections.

5. Celebrate

I celebrate! I feel that it is a great practice to stop, reflect, feel gratitude for what one has achieved, and even for the mistakes or messing up ones has done. I celebrate it all. For me celebration is writing down something good that happened, having a glass of prosecco with family and friends to celebrate our time together, or simply making a quick happy dance for something.

For example right today, At FindYourWay Coaching, we have sent a newsletter to our clients, showing pictures of events together, where many people's lives have been touched (mine first!!!) and to stop and reflect on what we have achieved as company and as people and what we move forward towards. Here some of them (next year I have to remind myself to share also some pictures of something I messed up, we don't tend to do that!). THANK YOU, ALWAYS THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN OUR WORK AND THE EFFORT WE BRING INTO WORKPLACE MENTAL WELLBEING AND COMMUNICATION

One last tip about something I do towards the year end: INBOX ZERO. It consists in having zero email in your inbox, literally. It does not have to be before my holidays officially start. Of course I don't want to get into my email during holidays, but if I did not have enough time, I do that before the new year start. I just transfer all emails, paying attention to keep the unread as they are, into the corresponding year folder, so that I can see my email inbox empty by the year end. It feels really like decluttering.

The Bigger Picture: Supporting your Mental Health

The bigger picture is: always take care of your health, especially during challenging times. Even positive things like Christmas can take a toll on our mental wellbeing, and knowing what to do, even small things, can help a long way.

Happy festive time to all!