The holidays can be happy and relaxing; but, it can also be a time of stress. There can be financial stress with having to buy gifts for loved ones and family stress with planning and preparing meals for the holidays.
According to the American Psychological Association, a recent survey on holiday stress, “women are more likely than men to report heightened stress levels during the holiday season, and that they’re less likely to take time to relax or manage that stress in healthy ways”. Read Tips for Holiday Stress
Here are some tips to deal with stress over the holidays:
- Practice self-care (eat healthy, get enough sleep, engage in physical activity, drink plenty of water)
- Set realistic expectations for yourself and others (don't expect perfection)
- Create a plan (make a to do list)
- Keep things into perspective (think about if it is worth the stress)
- Track your spending (make a budget and stick to it)
- Do not over schedule yourself (you don’t ‘have to go to everything or do it all, learn to say no)
- Manage gift giving (don’t spend more than you can afford, think about making gifts)
- Ask for support from family and friends (delegate to others)
- To avoid getting overwhelmed, remember what matters and is important (not the material things but the relationship and time with family and friends)
- Talk to a mental health professional for support, if needed
Call or Text 988 - If you are experiencing a mental health crisis.