Managing Holiday Stress

Everyone knows that the holidays can be a stressful time of the year. There’s a lot of planning that goes on for family get-togethers, holiday parties, dinners, and even traveling. The conflicts that are bound to arise bring up mixed feelings and can lead to stress and anxiety. However, the holidays can also be a time to reflect on all the good things you have in your life and enjoy spending time with your close friends and loved ones.?

Start early!

One of the best ways to avoid holiday stress is to start planning early! This means making to-do lists, grocery lists, getting a head start on your gift shopping and more. When you wait until the last minute to do these things, that’s when the stress really gets to you. You can avoid all of that by just making a few lists early on and taking time to complete them a few tasks at a time instead of all at once. This season is especially important with all of the issues with the ships and getting gifts.?

Take care of you!

?When you’re starting to feel overwhelmed by all the tasks you must do and by the idea that you will soon have to spend time entertaining your large, extended family, create some personal time to relax.?You can also be stressed due to Covid and the change in the holidays.?

Know what stressors/triggers are coming up for you due to the holidays during a pandemic.

Make time in your schedule to do whatever it is that makes you happy, whether it’s a day at the spa, snuggling under the covers and reading a good book, or enjoying a glass of wine before bed. Some solitary time is important and it’s good to indulge occasionally. How do you self-soothe/calm??

Add in one Mindfulness activity a day- meditation, walking, free write/brain dump, observing nature, deep breathing/1-2-3 technique, muscle tension exercise, count backwards from 50, etc.

This includes learning to say NO. Saying no is an act of self care and is setting a boundary.?If you constantly say yes when you don’t want to or don’t have the time, you will find yourself stressed, overwhelmed and resentful.

Be Realistic- don’t expect your holidays to be perfect or like the?years pre-pandemic. This year is different with the pandemic and expecting perfection or for it to be like last year, is setting yourself up for failure. Make this year a fresh start. You could keep some old traditions and start new ones.?

Celebrate differently – have smaller gatherings in person with the rest of the family virtually. Set up outside if possible or in a room with the windows open.?Religious services can be done digitally. Drop off meals and gifts if possible. Be open and flexible in your thinking. Remember: Safety first. Discuss your expectations with your family before the holidays. Do you want masks? Do you have a rule about vaccinations, or will you have everyone take a Covid test? Will there be sanitizer at the front door? Will the duration of the gathering be shorter??

Be up front financially!

?Money is another big factor in holiday stress since most people plan to buy presents for the family, cook dinner for a group, and even host big parties. The holidays are always a tough time financially (especially now with the pandemic and inflation) and you shouldn’t spend money that you don’t have and can’t afford to spend. If money is tight, create a strict budget for yourself and make sure to stick to it. Consider buying presents only for the kids, doing a Secret Santa /Yankee Swap for the adults, or even use your creativity to make some homemade gifts.??

Ask for help!

If you’re the person in the family who is doing all the planning, all the cooking, and all the shopping, you really should consider asking for help. No one can be expected to do so many things at once so learn to delegate tasks to others. Ask family members to each bring a different dish to dinner to relieve some of your cooking duties. Everyone should be doing his or her part to help, even during clean up.

?Gratitude!

?The holidays are about spending quality time with your friends and family. It’s not about the presents, the food, or the parties. We should feel grateful and happy for our health and for being surrounded by loved ones. These are lessons to pass on to your children and teach them to appreciate all the little things in life that make us happy.

Gratitude Questions:

When did I feel grateful today? What made me smile today? Who was kind to me today? What did I learn today?

What am I grateful for in general??

What obstacles did I overcome today??

What made me feel hopeful today??

How did I show myself compassion today? What negative emotions did I release??

Happy Holidays!!

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