Let’s Talk About Holiday Stress…
The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, right?
Not for everyone, and that is okay. They can be stressful with high expectations and overall anxiety.
Symptoms of Holiday Stress:
Feeling overwhelmed and out of control
Avoiding parties or other social gatherings
Fatigue or feeling tired; sleep disturbances
Stomach issues, lack of appetite or overeating
Feeling depressed / hopeless
The stress that you are feeling may be related to unrealistic expectations, such as trying to make everything go perfectly or maybe it is related to budget concerns (either not having enough money or overspending or feeling pressured to spend money on things that don’t feel meaningful). Stress can also come from family dynamics or a loss/change of traditions.
How to deal with Holiday Stress:
Make sure you are getting enough rest, you don’t have to go to every party, your presents don’t have to be perfectly wrapped, and it is okay if you don’t get everything you wanted to complete (prioritize prioritize). (Without sleep/rest stress and anxiety will only increase)
Set boundaries- It can be hard but make sure that you are limiting the time that you are committing to things and be sure that you are scheduling things that actually create joy for yourself. If you have multiple family members you are trying to visit, you can always ask for shorter times or different days. It doesn’t have to be Christmas Day.
Self-Care- make sure that you are doing something that is truly for you and brings you joy
Leave Perfection and perfectionist ideas away at this time, make sure to measure your expectations so that you can enjoy the holiday season. Accept that some things will go wrong that way when they do It is easier to manage.
Remember, the feelings you are having are normal but make sure to attach something productive to what you are feeling to decrease symptoms.
You are a human being, not a human doing.
