10 WAYS TO COPE WITH STRESS DURING THE HOLIDAYS

 

Do you feel overwhelmed during the Holiday season? Can’t enjoy the moment because there is a lot going on? Well, I wish none of us dealt with anxiety, but if you do – the good news is that there are ways to help you manage stress during the holidays.

 

 

Let me start by first saying that I am not a psychiatrist or a therapist, and this is not my area of expertise. But I do have some thoughts on this topic from my readings over the years that might help you.

The holidays can be overwhelming. While much of what we do around the holidays has been linked to bringing joy, some of us process these events differently. Depending on family dynamics, hosting or even getting together can be stressful. The expectations during the season also revolve around keeping up with Holiday shopping, gift giving and if you’re traveling during the Holiday season, I only wish you luck! Not only are the responsibilities stacked one on top of the other, it can also be financially draining. Everywhere you go may feel like too many people, too much family, too much food. Especially if you live in an urban city like New York City. Just the thought of going to midtown during the holiday season can stress people out. I can easily say that I do not love the jam-packed sidewalks and the slow-moving crowds. So, what are some ways to help us cope with stress during the holidays? Let’s get to it.

 

This post is all about ways to help you cope with stress during the Holidays.

 

#1 KEEP YOUR ROUTINES

After a late night out, we skip work-out class in the morning, and it snowballs from there. Before we know it, we’ve fallen out of our routines. I think holding onto your habits, whatever those may be, reading a book at night before you go to bed or exercising first thing in the morning, are important to bring back that sense of normalcy and control over your schedule during the holiday season.

 

#2 SET A BUDGET

This is so important. Have a budget and try to stick to it. Things can get out of control very easily during the holiday season. You might start talking yourself into how you deserve everything coming your way. But the truth is you don’t want to accrue credit card debt just because you decided to have fun during a 10-day period. You might consider talking to your family to limit gifts, I know many families who stopped buying each other unnecessary gifts, some have limited their gift giving to kids in the family.

 

#3 BE REALISTIC & SAY NO

Just because your friends, family or coworkers are inviting you somewhere, you do not need to go. I know many people who are still working on their ability to say ‘no’ to things. You simply cannot spend the entire holiday season from one responsibility to the other. You also need to recharge your own batteries and do the things that bring you joy – if you want to be in your pjs binge watching your favorite Netflix series, do just that. Sounds like the perfect plan to me.

 

#4 SLEEP WELL

Your body still needs rest to operate, if not more during this active season. Whether you need 6 or 8 hours of sleep, make it a goal to get rest. Sleep is so important to your body’s recovery, mood and wellbeing. Don’t ignore your need to rest.

 

#5 EAT HEALTHY

You might have the best deserts in your fridge waiting for you in the morning when you wake up after a lovely gathering. But as much as cake for breakfast sounds like a great idea, skip it. Try to get back to your healthy and usual (i.e. non-holiday) breakfasts. Feed your body healthy food it deserves and don’t make the hypercaloric yet appetizing food your new bad habit.

 

#6 LIMIT ALCOHOL AND CAFEEINE

We expose ourselves to too much caffeine and alcohol during the holidays, be it through holiday drinks (hello Starbucks), soda, cocktails… the list goes on. Try some carbonated water, herbal tea, decaffeinated tea or coffee for a change, see how that makes you feel. Both coffee and alcohol can interfere with your sleep, which is very important for your ability to take on the day.

 

#7 SELF-CARE

Doing self-care activities such as taking a bath, putting a mask on, painting your nails, or reading a book can give you a break from your ongoing Holiday activities. Try meditating with Calm or Headspace – see if those work for you.

 

#8 MOVE YOUR BODY

Make it a point to either go out for a walk every day, show up to your work out class (or both!), or whatever your preference may be. Dedicating the time just to focus on something completely different can be such a game changer for your mental health, besides all the physical benefits from working out. You will start (or end your day) with a stronger mindset.

 

#9 DELEGATE SOME RESPONSIBILITIES

This can be tough for some of us. If you’re hosting, you want everything to be perfect. It’s hard to allow people to help you sometimes. Try to accept it, even if it’s not going to look as good as if you did it yourself. Better yet, ask people to help you and delegate responsibilities. You might make your surrounding feel better too. What good is a perfectly hosted dinner party if you are too exhausted to enjoy it?

 

#10 GET PROFESSIONAL HELP

As I previously mentioned, I am not a psychiatrist, these are a solid set of ways to help with stress during the holidays. But if you feel that they do not help or you are too overwhelmed, please get professional help. There is no shame in seeing a therapist. Only good things can come out of therapy.

 

These were 10 tips to help you manage stress during the holidays. I hope it helped you!

 

As always, thank you for stopping by and reading. If this content interested you, you might want to follow my Instagram account @girlontheues

See you next time,

Girl on the Upper East Side

Xx

If this interests you, you might enjoy reading my blog post on Unique Christmas Gifts, How to Keep your New Year’s Resolutions, Best Self-Care Gifts.