The holiday season is upon us! Family dinners, festive events, shopping, and all the traditions that come with it. While it can be a wonderful time of year, for many it’s a major source of stress. Planning ahead can help you navigate the season.
4 Sources of Holiday Stress
Magical Holiday Expectations: Many people have a picture perfect idea in their head for holidays, but expecting your holiday to play out like a Hallmark movie is bound to set you up for disappointment. Perfect doesn’t exist, so it’s best to manage your expectations. It’s ok if you don’t make all of the thanksgiving pies or get holiday cards out this year. Focus on the traditions that you care about most and let the others go.
Difficult Family Dynamics: Lets face it, most of us have difficult relationships with some family members. This year opposing political beliefs are complicating family dynamics for many. For others it can be a long history of trauma or strained relationships. Whatever the challenge is, here are some ways to navigate the situation:
Practice Active Listening: When conversations take a tense turn, focus on listening before responding. This helps others feel heard and can defuse potential conflicts.
Prepare Exit Strategies: If you sense that a topic is becoming too much or tensions are flaring, have a polite way to steer the conversation in a different direction or excuse yourself. Phrases like “Let’s talk about this another time” or “I need to step out for a moment” can help.
Empathize, Don’t Criticize: Acknowledging another’s perspective, even if you don’t agree, can help avoid escalating conflicts. Phrases like “I see where you’re coming from” or “That’s an interesting way to look at it” show respect for different viewpoints.
Choose Your Battles: Focus on staying calm and avoid engaging in arguments.
Find a Support System: Have specific friends or other family members for support that you can vent to.
Avoid Comparisons: Remember that each family’s holiday is unique, and social media can distort reality. There's no such thing as a perfect family or the perfect holiday and everyone has their own traditions. Focus on what makes yours special.
Monetary Expenses: Holiday expenses can add up quickly; from the costs of gift giving to the cost of hosting holiday meals and travel. The best solution is to set a budget and stick to it. Focus on creating memories instead of buying large quantities of gifts. Avoid trying to keep up with what your friends are doing or what you see on social media and put your money towards what is most important to you. The memories will last a lifetime while many material items get tossed to the wayside.
Time Management: Our schedules tend to be packed this time of year with social obligations, pre-holiday work deadlines and all the prep for celebrations. It can feel like quite a struggle to manage time.
Set Realistic Expectations: You can’t do it all, so don’t try. There are only so many hours in a day, so pick what is most important to focus on.
Establish Boundaries: It’s ok to say no. You don’t have to go to every gathering. It’s important to take time for yourself so you don’t get burned out.
Plan Ahead: Create a manageable timeline for shopping, travel, and any other prep needed.
Stick to Your Routine: Maintaining your daily routine can be helpful for anxiety. Go for walks, drink plenty of water, and get enough sleep.
Remember, you have the power to reduce your stress this season. If the holidays are generally a rough time of year for you, have a support plan in place and make sure to reach out if you're struggling. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 if you need to talk. You do not have to be considering suicide to call. Here are some other articles you may find helpful.
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