U.S. adults are feeling joyous but overwhelmed this holiday season, as nearly nine in 10 (89%) say that concerns such as not having enough money, missing loved ones and anticipating family conflict cause them stress at this time of year, according to the results of a new poll by the American Psychological Association (APA).
Although the holiday season provides a break from the stresses of our everyday lives, it brings with it stressors of its own that can be a real drain on our resilience, our happiness and even our health.
According to the APA poll, here are the top 10 sources of holiday stress:
The holidays tend to expose us to close encounters with friends, family members and situations that can push our buttons, activate our Thinking Styles and sap our resilience. Here are some suggestions for how to stay calmer and more resilient in spite of the additional stress. While common-sensical, it can't hurt to visit or re-visit these as the holidays approach:
- Be prepared - Take a moment to identify the specific situations and people that you know from experience will stress you out. Then, come up with one or two ways that you can think about them in a more positive way. But keep it real. If you can't come up with plausible ways to view them positively, then try to either avoid or at least minimize your contact with them.
- Check Your Resilience Tank - Resilience is a resource. It's a capacity. Stress and negativity reduce it. Calm and positivity boost it. Take stock of your resilience resources and do everything possible to fill your tank before the holidays arrive.
- Practice Positivity - Research shows that feeling 3 times more positive emotions than negative emotions each day provides a big boost to our resilience. Trouble is that most of us experience 3 to 1 in the opposite direction, and it takes practice to turn the tide. Try taking a pause every time you think of it - as often as once an hour - to think of something good, look at something beautiful, or express gratitude out loud to someone nearby.
- Set expectations - Particularly if money is an issue, try to set realistic limits on gift giving with close friends and family members. I've done so this year - particularly with family that live remotely and don't have kids. ??
- Take care of yourself first - Eat healthy. Maintain or even increase your exercise. Engage in activities that you enjoy and find relaxing. Get plenty of sleep. All more easily said than done, but more important now than ever.
- Stay connected - Our most current research shows that how connected we are - to our jobs, our families, our communities, and our faith - has a direct impact on our resilience. The holidays are the perfect time to reach out to friends and family. But even if you are alone, a great way to stay connected is to volunteer. Doing something for someone else is a sure way to connect to something bigger than our yourself. And this is a proven way to boost your resilience and your life satisfaction!
Here's to the happiest and most resilient of holiday seasons!
Adaptiv Learning is the world's oldest and largest organization devoted exclusively to the development and delivery of evidence-based resilience assessment, training, and coaching solutions to individuals and companies worldwide. Learn more at https://www.adaptivlearning.com.
