The holidays are a time for celebration, family, and friends. It can also be an incredibly stressful time of year. It is easy to get overwhelmed with everything on your plate: gift shopping, cooking meals, baking, cleaning, attending parties, and all the other holiday activities that come with the holiday season.
And if you live in an area where COVID-19 is still spreading, you may be feeling additional stress or worry about your and your loved one's health. You may also feel stressed, sad or anxious because your holiday plans may look different during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In fact, according to a recent report from the American Psychological Association, stress levels during the holidays have been increasingly high in recent years.
By following these few simple tips, you can help relieve the stress that comes with the holidays:
1. Get organized. Plan ahead.
The holiday season can be a chaotic time with a lot of running around and meeting many people. There are many things to do and see and so little time to do them all. That is why it is crucial to plan so you can have a more organized and stress-free holiday. Planning ahead can also help prioritize what's really needed to be done to avoid missing anything.
For businesses, it's the most critical time of the year to hit all the right marketing notes. Your marketing strategy needs to be planned out weeks in advance, instead of just on the day.
2. Keep your finances in check. Know your spending limit.
One of the biggest causes of stress during the holiday season is the lack of money. If you’re on a tight budget, set up a plan that tells how much you can afford to spend, then stick with it. Don’t buy gifts that will put you in debt the rest of the year. Be realistic about your spending.
3. Be mindful of your holiday eating habits.
During the holidays, it is okay to indulge in foods that you may only have once a year. But do not forget the importance of healthy eating as well. A glass of eggnog or six sugar cookies for breakfast isn’t going to completely wreck your eating plan. But it’s not good to eat it every day during the holidays as it may leave you feeling ill and also the pounds can quickly sneak up on you.
4. Put yourself first. Don’t be afraid to say “no”.
When you're invited to an event, it's okay to say "no" if the invitation isn't important to you. Having more time to spend on events that matter will make your life better. Know your limitations as well. Let other people know what you will and won’t do. Set some time to do things you truly enjoy.
5. Manage your expectations. Keep everything in perspective.
There is no such thing as a perfect Thanksgiving or Christmas event. Any setbacks should be viewed as opportunities to be more agile and resilient. Burned cookies should not destroy your holidays. While it may be a letdown this year, it will likely create a hilarious family memory. It's not the end of the world if anything goes wrong. Try to focus on the positive aspects of your life and realize that this crisis will pass.
It’s important to listen to your body and mind when it comes to stress. If a situation is too stressful, acknowledge it. Know your triggers and what you can do to better manage your stress. This will not only help you deal with holiday stress, but it will also help you manage stress more effectively throughout the year.
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