The Anti-Grinch Guide to Navigating Stress During the Holiday Season
While the holidays are meant to be filled with cheer, sometimes we can feel more like the Grinch as we stress about spending yet another holiday listening to rowdy Uncle Dave complain about politics after one too many eggnogs.
The holidays can be stressful with trying to make room for everything in your schedule, operating on a tighter budget, wrapping up (no pun intended) the end of your year, and trying to connect with loved ones while also dealing with boisterous, eggnog-fueled uncles.
Don’t worry! Holiday cheer is absolutely possible. Here are four strategies you can use to put your mental health first during the holidays:
Make a Plan
We all have more than our fair share of holiday parties, events, and shopping on the to-do list this month, but writing down your holiday schedule can help you keep everything in order and be more realistic with your commitments and how you divide your time.
Creating and maintaining a budget can also help you deal with the financial stress of the holidays. The American Psychiatric Association reported that, “Among the options tested, Americans named affording holiday gifts (51 percent), finding and securing holiday gifts (40 percent), or affording holiday meals (39 percent) as the top three factors causing them anxiety this season.”
Establish Boundaries
During the holidays, it becomes increasingly important to establish appropriate boundaries, whether it’s to keep control of your time and attention or to manage the excess of toys and gadgets coming into your home.
According to Psychology Today, here are a few examples of healthy holiday boundaries:
- Feeling empowered to skip, go late, leave early, or drive your own car to holiday parties.
- Saying yes because you want to, not out of obligation or to please others.
- Asking your guests not to discuss politics.
- Choosing not to send holiday cards (or any other holiday tradition).
- Limiting how much alcohol you consume.
- Sticking to your budget.
- Clearly communicating your needs and expectations.
- Not checking your work emails on your day off.
Remember: It’s okay to say “no” to that fifth ugly sweater party.
Self-Care Comes First
According to Mental Health America, the prevalence of seasonal depression is anywhere from 0 to 10 percent of the population, depending on the geographic region. During the winter months, and especially during the holidays, it’s important to put self care first. Eating nutritious foods, moving throughout the day, getting some sunlight, taking time for yourself, and prioritizing sleep as much as possible are all important factors in managing your self care.
But remember: While meeting your nutrition goals is always important, it’s equally important to enjoy the cookies, hot chocolate, and other goodies that come with the holidays. It’s all about balance!
Focus on Connection
When your trying to meet the demands of hectic schedules and tight budgets, while also taking care of yourself and your family, it can be difficult to establish connections with loved ones during the holidays.
“Economic burdens have run high in our polling for the past few years as a source of concern, and that makes sense given the challenges we’ve all shared,” the American Psychiatric Association’s President Petros Levounis, M.D., M.A. says. “Connecting with supportive family and friends is more meaningful to our mental health than the commercial aspects of the season. The kindness with which you treat yourself and those you love during the holiday season is the very best gift you can give.”
From our family to yours, have a happy holiday!
