The holiday season is a time of excitement and joy for many. However, holidays can also cause stress and fatigue. Holiday stress can be triggered by family, finances, and the overall demand for the season. There are steps you can take to manage holiday stress.
Plan: Planning helps reduce stress and keep you organized. Make a list to track holiday activities. Allow plenty of time to shop, create a budget, and pace yourself.
Manage Your Expectations: It’s easy to get carried away with planning, spending, decorating, cooking, and making everything perfect. Keep things in perspective, be flexible with your plans, and limit expectations for activities.
Be Mindful: You can become overwhelmed with family and obligations if you are not careful to set limits. Setting limits will prevent you from overextending yourself. Do this by being mindful not to overwork, trying to achieve perfection, or spending beyond your means.
Maintain Healthy Habits: With all the excitement we can forget to do things that help us maintain our well-being. It is important to eat balanced meals, get enough sleep, and say no.
Reference: Northwestern Medicine (2020) Managing Stress and Depression Around the Holidays. Retrieved from. https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/emotional-health/tips-to-help-with-holiday-stress
