The joy and happiness that the holidays are intended to bring can often times stir up negative emotions and leave you feeling stressed and depressed. The holidays present a dizzying array of demands – parties, baking, shopping, cleaning and entertaining, just to name a few. But if you can follow these practical tips to minimize the holiday stress, you may even end up enjoying the holidays more than you thought you would.
-Acknowledge your feelings: If you are experiencing adversity in your personal life and can’t seem to feel joyous and excited, it’s ok to take time to cry or express your feelings. You can’t force yourself to be happy just because it’s the holiday season.
-Reach out: If you’re feeling sad, lonely, or isolated, seek out community, religious, or other social events. If you reach out to the right people, they can offer support, companionship, and empathy. Volunteering your time to help others is also a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.
-Be realistic: The holidays don’t have to be perfect or just like last year. As families and situations change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few traditions to hold on to and be open to starting new ones. For example, if your children can’t come to your house on Christmas, find new ways to celebrate together, such as sharing pictures, emails, or videos.
-Stick to a Budget: Before you go gift and food shopping, decide on how much money you can afford to spend and stick to your budget. It is impossible to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Simple alternatives are donating to charity in someone’s name, give homemade gifts like yummy treats or handmade ornaments, or start a family gift exchange.
-Don’t abandon healthy habits: Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Have a healthy snack before holidays parties so that you don’t go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks. Be sure to take care of yourself by getting plenty of sleep and allotting time for physical activity.
-Take time for yourself: Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Take a walk at night and stargaze or listen to soothing music. Do something that reduces your stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring your inner calm.
*Partly taken from Mayo Clinic
