The holidays are a wonderful time of year for both adults and children. However, relationships, finances, physical and emotional demands, life experiences, loss of a loved one, and social media pressures, can result in holiday stress. In addition, while it is easy to compare yourself to others this can also contribute to feeling sad or lonely. Remember, it's ok to not feel merry and bright during the holiday season. However, there are steps you can take to have a stress-free holiday.
Relationships: Relationship tension among family, friends, and intimate partners, can become worse during the holidays. And if you're facing the holidays without a loved one, you may find yourself lonely or sad. With family relationships, especially if you are together for several days, conflicts among family members are bound to arise with so many needs and interests to accommodate. Among intimate partners, whether you are dating or recently married or living together, tension often arises when deciding when both want to follow their traditions, but yet want to be together.
Finances: Like your relationships, finances can also cause stress at any time of the year. But overspending during the holidays on gifts, travel, food, and entertainment can increase stress if you spend beyond your means.
Physical demands: Activities such as shopping, attending social gatherings, unrealistic expectations, over-commercialization, and preparing holiday meals can wear you down. Feeling tired can also increase your stress, creating a vicious cycle. Then in addition to stress, add lack of exercise, and overindulgence in food and drink can result in holiday illness. Getting plenty of exercise and sleep are good ways to help manage stress and fatigue.
Social Media Use: The use of social media can be beneficial to how it makes you feel or cope with life stressors but pay attention to how it makes you feel because it can also have a negative impact, increasing the risk of depression and anxiety. Whether Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc., if notifications and posts make you feel sad, stressed, fearful, isolated, etc. from seeing the picture-perfect holiday, remember that these are moments, not every moment of their private lives. If getting on social media helps you feel better and cope this is fine. However, if it makes you feel more isolated, sad, stressed, or depressed, then you may want to choose to take a social media break to help get yourself better cope.
Loss of a Loved One: The holidays are a time of joy and cheer, but the loss of a loved one, especially the first holiday can be the most difficult. The empty space in your heart and life can leave you anything but happy and cheerful. There are, however, nine tips to help you get through the holidays while honoring the memories of your loved one. Please visit "The Holidays After The Loss of a Loved One".
Finances: Like your relationships, finances can also cause stress at any time of the year. But overspending during the holidays on gifts, travel, food, and entertainment can increase stress if you spend beyond your means.
Physical demands: Activities such as shopping, attending social gatherings, unrealistic expectations, over-commercialization, and preparing holiday meals can wear you down. Feeling tired can also increase your stress, creating a vicious cycle. Then in addition to stress, add lack of exercise, and overindulgence in food and drink can result in holiday illness. Getting plenty of exercise and sleep are good ways to help manage stress and fatigue.
Social Media Use: The use of social media can be beneficial to how it makes you feel or cope with life stressors but pay attention to how it makes you feel because it can also have a negative impact, increasing the risk of depression and anxiety. Whether Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc., if notifications and posts make you feel sad, stressed, fearful, isolated, etc. from seeing the picture-perfect holiday, remember that these are moments, not every moment of their private lives. If getting on social media helps you feel better and cope this is fine. However, if it makes you feel more isolated, sad, stressed, or depressed, then you may want to choose to take a social media break to help get yourself better cope.
Loss of a Loved One: The holidays are a time of joy and cheer, but the loss of a loved one, especially the first holiday can be the most difficult. The empty space in your heart and life can leave you anything but happy and cheerful. There are, however, nine tips to help you get through the holidays while honoring the memories of your loved one. Please visit "The Holidays After The Loss of a Loved One".
Expect less! Don’t compete with past holidays or try to make this one “the best ever”. Set realistic goals, pace yourself, and organize time. Write a list of the most important activities and things to do. Don’t plan too much. Be realistic about what you can do. Don’t spend too much time preparing for one day (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.).
Allow yourself to feel: The holiday season does not automatically make feelings of sadness or loneliness go away. Allow yourself to feel however you feel but talk with others about how you feel when you begin to feel down.
Let go of the past! Don’t be disappointed if your holidays are not like they used to be. Life brings changes. Each holiday season is different and can be enjoyed in its’ own way. You set yourself up for sadness if everything has to be just like the “good old days”. Especially with the loss of a loved one, keep memories in your heart, and create new traditions to honor them and look toward the future.
Do something for someone else. Try volunteering to help others.
Enjoy “free” holiday activities: Drive and look at holiday decorations, go window shopping.
Do not drink too much. Alcohol is a depressant. Drinking can make you feel more depressed.
Don’t be afraid to try something new. Celebrate the holidays in a way you have not done before.
Spend time with “supportive” people who care about you. Even those who care about you might not always be supportive (both family and friends). Make new friends if you are alone during special times. Contact someone you have lost touch with.
Spend less and not over what you can afford. Make gifts & be creative. Don’t get caught up in the “buying trend”.
Take care of yourself! Get plenty of exercise, sleep, and time to relax by living in the moment. Taking a daily walk, and spending time in nature helps to clear your mind, reduces anxiety, and keeps you healthier.
Find time for yourself! Don’t spend all your time providing activities for your family and friends.
Allow yourself to feel: The holiday season does not automatically make feelings of sadness or loneliness go away. Allow yourself to feel however you feel but talk with others about how you feel when you begin to feel down.
Let go of the past! Don’t be disappointed if your holidays are not like they used to be. Life brings changes. Each holiday season is different and can be enjoyed in its’ own way. You set yourself up for sadness if everything has to be just like the “good old days”. Especially with the loss of a loved one, keep memories in your heart, and create new traditions to honor them and look toward the future.
Do something for someone else. Try volunteering to help others.
Enjoy “free” holiday activities: Drive and look at holiday decorations, go window shopping.
Do not drink too much. Alcohol is a depressant. Drinking can make you feel more depressed.
Don’t be afraid to try something new. Celebrate the holidays in a way you have not done before.
Spend time with “supportive” people who care about you. Even those who care about you might not always be supportive (both family and friends). Make new friends if you are alone during special times. Contact someone you have lost touch with.
Spend less and not over what you can afford. Make gifts & be creative. Don’t get caught up in the “buying trend”.
Take care of yourself! Get plenty of exercise, sleep, and time to relax by living in the moment. Taking a daily walk, and spending time in nature helps to clear your mind, reduces anxiety, and keeps you healthier.
Find time for yourself! Don’t spend all your time providing activities for your family and friends.
Source: National Mental Health Association |