The holidays are supposed to be fun and relaxing. They are meant to bring people together and help us feel loved and appreciated. And yet, many of us experience holiday stress as we try to balance our busy lives with the pressures of family time and gift-giving. The following tips can help you cope better with stressful situations during the holidays.
There are a number of steps you can take to reduce your stress and feel better about yourself during the winter holiday season.
For many people, the holidays bring with them a host of stressors and anxieties. There are family obligations to attend to, gifts to buy and wrap, travel logistics to plan, parties and dinners to attend—and that’s not even counting all the work deadlines looming over you during this time. In short: it can be a bit overwhelming!
You might think that your anxiety is caused by an outside source or situation—but often there are things you can do yourself in order to take care of your mental health during this stressful time of year. Here are some tips on how you can reduce stress at home:
Talk to someone you trust. This might be a family member, friend or therapist who will listen without judging you and help calm your nerves.
Meditate. Taking some time each day to clear your head and focus on being present can really help with stress management, especially when things get hectic during the holidays. If meditating isn't for you, try finding other ways to relax like yoga or breathing exercises that center yourself in the moment.
Exercise regularly and eat healthy meals to keep up energy levels so that dealing with extra responsibilities don’t feel as overwhelming.
Take breaks from social media and focus more on being present in real-life interactions.
Make a list of everything that needs doing before Christmas hits. This will help alleviate some anxiety about getting everything done in time for Christmas Eve dinner parties or weekend visits from out-of-town guests.
Break down each task into manageable steps so that there aren't so many overwhelming tasks staring at you all at once!
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Make time to do things you enjoy, such as listening to music, reading a book, taking a walk, or watching a movie. Do something that makes you happy.
Remember that “happiness” is different for everyone. For example: Some people love Christmas music; others hate it! Some people love watching holiday movies; others prefer not to watch any at all.
If possible, reduce your social media usage during this time of year – especially if it's causing stress in your life or affecting how much sleep you get each night (which can lead to more stress!).
Reach out and connect with the people you love and trust.
You may be able to handle things on your own— but you should never feel ashamed of asking for help. Find someone in your support network who can help out with any tasks you might have to complete, or any venting you need to do. Find a friend or family member who is willing to listen without judgement and offer advice if needed. Regardless of whether it's during the holidays or any other time of year, reaching out for help is always an option worth pursuing if it will make life easier for yourself and those around you.
It is important to remember that you are not alone in your feelings, and that there are ways of coping with stress. Remember, you are human—so of course you're going to feel overwhelmed sometimes! If you find yourself feeling stressed out during the holidays, it's okay to ask for help from friends or family members who can support you. You can also take advantage of other resources in your community: for example, if there's a support group near where you live that focuses on mental health issues like anxiety or depression (or even just general life problems), consider attending one of their meetings—the more people join together as a community in order to overcome challenges, the better off we'll be as a society!
And if all else fails...well then it might be time consider talking with someone from outside your immediate circle: A professional therapist could be just what's needed in order provide valuable perspective on whatever challenges have arisen in life recently--and give guidance as needed going forward."
Set realistic expectations.
Be realistic about what you can accomplish.
Set a time limit for each task.
Don't try to do everything at once.
Don't worry about what other people are doing.
Don't compare yourself to others!
Get enough sleep!
Sleep is a big deal for your mental health. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) included sleep in its latest set of guidelines on how to treat and manage anxiety disorders.
The APA says you should aim for seven to eight hours of sleep each night, try not to take naps during the day, and make sure your bedroom environment is conducive to clear thinking and good sleep quality. That means no caffeine after 2 p.m., avoiding alcohol right before bed, exercising regularly during the day or keeping it in moderation if you do exercise at night—and eating healthy foods instead of junk food when you get hungry between meals! This can really help your mental health during the holiday season when a lot of people struggle.
The holidays can be stressful, but they don’t have to be. You can enjoy the season without feeling overwhelmed if you take some simple steps to keep your mental health in check and spend time doing things that bring you joy. The best part? These tips apply all year round!
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