5 Ways to Manage Anxiety and Stress Around the Holidays
The holidays are right around the corner! You have probably already heard the national holiday anthem of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” more times than you can count, stores are all decked out, and Black Friday advertisements are everywhere! While the holidays are a time to celebrate, to be with family and friends, and enjoy breaks from work or school, they can also bring increased stress and anxiety. With changing schedules, traveling to go see family, attending gatherings, preparing for finals… It can feel very overwhelming! So, check out these 5 tips to decrease anxiety and stress and increase joy, self-care, and meaningful connections with others.
Practice Self-Care
It might sound like a broken record, but self-care during the holiday times is so important! With the hustle and bustle and busyness, it’s important that you give time to yourself as well. This can be a personal gift just to yourself, and yes, YOU DESERVE IT!
By caring for ourselves and being intentional about filling our cup, we can have more fulfilling connections with others, feel recharged, and increase our ability to better manage stressors. Here are some ideas to try around the holidays:
Make a cup of hot chocolate and watch a cheesy holiday movie
Go for a winter walk outside and enjoy the fresh air
Head to bed early one night
Cuddle with a pet
Do some slow holiday decorating (it doesn’t have to happen overnight!)
Make a yummy, special holiday treat
Do a puzzle or read a favorite book (not connected to work or school!)
Give back—find a charity donation center or volunteer time because helping others can be self-care too!
Put on cozy pajamas with a comfortable blanket (I love my Comfy which is an all in one cozy item!)
It’s OK to Say “No”
The holidays can be filled with a lot of obligations and expectations. It’s important to recognize our limits so we don’t feel overwhelmed and recognize that it’s ok to say “no” and set healthy boundaries. Recognize the signs within yourself when you know you are reaching your limit (Ex: If you’re going shopping set a limit on just two stores vs. a full day).
Also, think about the people who you spend time with, and invest in relationships that give back the energy you put into the relationship. Relationships that feel draining, or like a lot of work might need limited time when we see them.
Sometimes it can feel uncomfortable setting these limits, but it’s you recognizing your self-worth and protecting your time and energy!
Practice Mindfulness
When we are on our own or with family members, mindfulness around the holidays can help us stay grounded and in the present moment. Triggers might come up such as difficult topics, pushy questions, or following certain expectations.
Take time to practice gratitude for yourself and others around you. This can help soften difficult emotions, and help make the holidays more fulfilling! A great meditation I have my clients practice is “Loving Kindness” and you can find a FREE SCRIPT HERE. This is where we take time to wish ourselves and others around us happiness and joy… even the people we have difficult feelings for! Try it out and see what you notice :)
If gathering with family members, plan ahead of time on how you will take a breather for yourself. Going for a quick walk, taking a moment in the bathroom, or finding a quiet space can help you reset or step away from uncomfortable topics/situations.
Take a Mental Health Day
If you’re finding burnout and stress are already here, and you need a day to support your mental health, DO IT! Just like we are able to take time off if we are feeling sick, we need to think about our mental health the same way.
Usually, the fears we have around taking a mental health day (judgment, falling further behind, negative reactions) don’t happen. Your future self will thank you for recognizing when you need a day off when there are lots of things going on!
Connect with Friends
Holidays can be more focused around family time, so plan ahead for when you are going to see your friends! Maybe plan a secret Santa/Snowman, go see Christmas lights, go sledding, or do some holiday shopping together. This can help if family time is feeling overloaded!
Hopefully these will give some supportive ideas as the holiday season approaches! Wishing you, your family, and loved ones a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, laughter, connections, and happy memories while also taking care of yourself and giving yourself the gift of taking care of your mental health!