5 Tips for Managing Holiday Stress
When you consider the holiday season’s commotion, do your shoulders stiffen up right away? Does the thought of spending the entire day with your extended family during the most delightful time of the year make your heart race? Do you have trouble falling asleep at night because of holiday spending?
You are not alone if you indicated yes to any of these questions. One of the main causes of stress in the United States is having to balance work and family obligations.
Read on to find out how to have the most stress-free holiday season ever before the pressure of the holidays creeps up on you.
What Is Holiday Stress?
Our mind and body react to the urgent duties and demands of our lives by becoming stressed during the holidays, or under any form of stress for that matter. Anxiety is common. Our brains release stress chemicals like cortisol and adrenaline when we perceive a threat, whether it is holiday traffic, passive-aggressive family members, or a family argument over Christmas dinner. Our bodies get ready to move. Our pulses quicken. Our eyes enlarge. Our muscles contract.
Stress can be advantageous in the short run. It keeps us awake and concentrated. However, a constant state of tension is terrible for both physical and mental health. It resembles simultaneously pressing on the brakes and the gas pedal. The car’s engine eventually melts, the brakes fail, and we crash into something.
Although they should be happy and healing, the holidays are rather stressful. And we’ll need to extend a lot of grace to both ourselves and others throughout this season. There is no denying that stressful situations will arise. But here’s the fun part: We get to decide how we react to those occurrences.
Causes of holiday stress
Making every meal award-worthy and every gift perfectly wrapped may soon become daunting. Stress can also result from trying to fit in all the events you want to go to or from thinking there aren’t enough parties you’ve been asked to.
In order to make every day special, there is a need to cram in every ritual and celebration. Stress can easily build up when you include in the financial strain, travel, and seeing relatives.
For those who have lost friends and family members, the holidays can also be a tough season. Stress around the holidays may be tougher to handle when the loss is still fresh in the mind.
Tips for managing holiday stress
There are strategies to combat Christmas stress, but you must first identify your triggers.
Do certain circumstances make you feel overburdened? When you’re under pressure, pause, and attempt to think about what might be setting you off. Utilize these straightforward suggestions to reduce Christmas stress after you are aware of your triggers.
1. Plan ahead
It can be challenging to fit in all of your holiday activities. You could have to cope with more traffic on top of your holiday obligations. You can also experience more pressure to finish your work early so you can take time off to travel.
Stress reduction can be aided by developing an action plan.
Make a list of everything you need to do so that you may prioritise what is most crucial. Making a list also makes it more difficult for you to forget things.
2. Put yourself first
During the holidays, gifting receives so much focus that it can be simple to forget to give to yourself. It will be simpler for you to take care of others if you take care of yourself.
Allocate some time for your favourite activities. Make time for exercise, a special dinner, or just a little period of fresh air. Remember the value of getting a regular good night’s sleep as well.
3. Keep your finances in check
Be realistic about what you can afford if you’re concerned about spending and how it will affect you after the holidays. The value of a gift is more significant than its price.
Set a spending limit and adhere to it. Spend only what you can afford, and if you are unable to do so, bake a treat or volunteer your time and abilities to friends and family.
4. Honor loved ones you have lost
If a loved one has passed away or distance prevents you from being with them, it could be difficult to celebrate the holidays.
During this Christmas season, spend time remembering your loved ones who have passed away. Think about making a contribution in their honour.
And if you’re unable to spend time with family and friends, volunteer your time at a nearby charity because your cheerful demeanour might just make someone’s day.
5. Don’t be afraid to say no
Recognize that it’s acceptable to refuse. Try to accept the opportunities and activities that you know will make you happy. Say “no” to commitments you know will leave you feeling disappointed and heartbroken.
Working a few additional hours of overtime could be worthwhile if it would make you happy and allow you to treat someone you care about. However, be free to turn down an invitation to a holiday gathering from your boundary-pushing relative. Saying no will relieve your stress and anxiety.