The holidays are upon us once again — and with them comes a range of emotions. This is a joyful time for many, but others may be feeling the effects of food insecurity or feelings of isolation, grief or depression.
The holidays may bring a new set of expectations and tasks that may feel daunting. And if you’re already in a more sensitive spot because of stressors from family, relationships or finances, these expectations can quickly feel overwhelming.
“Even if everything else in your life is perfect, the holidays are a stressful time,” says Heather Partridge, a behavioral health counselor at Tidelands Health. “And everything else is rarely perfect.”
Here are some tips to help reduce those stressors and have a smooth end to the year:
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re looking at a calendar full of party invites or trying to figure out how to buy gifts for everyone on your list without stretching your budget too thin.
“Setting boundaries early on — and sticking to them — takes some of the chaos out of the holiday season,” Partridge says.
In a quiet moment, think about what you can accomplish this holiday season. One office party and no more? Thanksgiving with out-of-town family, but Christmas at your home? Gifts for immediate family or children only? Whatever it is, deciding ahead of time can help stop the snowball effect before it starts.
Remind yourself of your plan as often as you need and remind others of your boundaries, too. Don’t be afraid to say, “No.”
Throughout the next few weeks, try to keep up healthy habits and set aside time to do things that make you feel good:
- The holidays tend to come with plenty of opportunities to overindulge on food, so try to maintain a healthy balance by eating healthily and exercising when you can.
- You may be busier than usual, but you should still try to get a good night’s rest of seven to nine hours a night.
- With all the holiday stress, carve out time to decompress.
“Self-care is doing what you need to do to promote your own well-being,” Partridge says. “That looks different for everyone, but whether it’s time for a favorite hobby, meditation, treating yourself, seeing your friends or taking a few minutes a day to yourself, it’s something you definitely want to keep on your to-do list.”
It’s easy to judge yourself based on what you think others are doing — even more so in the age of social media. But there’s no “right” way to take on the holiday season.
Rather than feeling guilty or sad about not living up to the expectations you had, try to think about what is going well instead. Try to reframe your thinking.
Though the holiday season can be isolating to some, it can also be an exceptional time to build communities. Whether you turn to your friends for emotional support or to community resources for other types of support, people want to help.
“Everyone understands that this can be a difficult time of year,” Partridge says. “Don’t be afraid to lean on others.”
If you’re able, consider donating toys and food to shelters, food pantries and other organizations that help those in need during the holiday season.
Giving back doesn’t just help to spread joy and goodwill throughout our community, but studies show it boosts your own emotional and mental well-being, while also getting into the true spirit of the holidays.