Don’t Let Holiday Stress Steal Your Joy: 3 Coping Strategies That Work

Powerful messaging that we get from advertising, films, and other cultural standard setters declares that we should all be experiencing holidays filled with family warmth and joyous times. 

In real life, the holiday season often proves to be stressful. In fact, a poll conducted by the American Psychological Association found that 89% of Americans feel stressed during the holidays.

Most of us face full social calendars and mounting obligations that range from cooking elaborate holiday meals and finding that “perfect gift” for everyone on your list to making the holidays magical for your children.

These unrealistic expectations and non-stop activities can leave us feeling exhausted, anxious, and depressed, rather than happy and excited. 

Our talented provider team at Clarity Psychiatric Care is insightful and compassionate, and we can help you navigate the holidays so you experience more good times than stressful ones. 

In addition to providing a wide range of services like counseling, medication management, and other treatments for a wide range of mental health conditions.

We help clients develop coping skills they can incorporate into their lives that address various challenges during the holiday season.

Why does stress increase during the holidays?

The holidays are overly busy for many, but they can be a time of loneliness and grief for others. Both situations present unique challenges. 

Depending on individual circumstances, impactful holiday stressors include:

• Too many holiday events and parties
• Pressure to shop for, wrap, and give gifts
• Worries about family tensions at gatherings over the holidays
• Financial stress
• Grief related to the loss of a loved one
• Unrealistic holiday expectations
• Loneliness
• Indulging in too much rich food or alcohol
• Social anxiety
• Lack of sleep 

During the holidays, we step out of our usual routines, which can leave us feeling fatigued and on edge. 

Try these approaches to tame your holiday-related stress

We have spoken with many of our clients about what they can do to enjoy a healthier holiday that’s not marked by feeling anxious, resentful, or overstimulated. 

Here are the top three tips:

1. Halt holiday burnout

Perhaps you’ve worked with your therapist to set boundaries in different areas of your life. It turns out that boundary setting is critical to a well-managed holiday season as well.

How does this strategy translate into real life? It may look like:

• Only attending festivities that you’re truly interested in and declining the rest
• Taking a break from hosting a holiday meal and suggesting that the family go out
• Buying baked goods instead of making them from scratch
• Changing the topic when a dinner table discussion gets too heated 
• Volunteering for a nonprofit to make the holidays less lonely
• Prioritizing eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep, even during the holiday season
• Celebrating one you’ve lost through storytelling or a get-together to remember them
• Making gifts instead of buying expensive ones

This holiday “restructuring” prioritizes simplicity and makes social events and holiday activities more meaningful.

2. Incorporate mindfulness into your holidays

At a hectic time like the holidays, scheduling a yoga class or a meditation session is truly a gift to yourself, and one that’s relaxing and restorative.

Getting out in nature is another option. Taking a walk in a park allows you to experience the beauty of nature through your senses. As you walk, concentrate on what you’re seeing, hearing, and feeling. 

Engage your sense of smell by taking in the scents of the ground, trees, and other plant life.

3. Remember to “gift” yourself

Many of us meet others’ needs before our own, especially during the holidays. We focus on making sure the kids see Santa, that our guests are taken care of, and that our home is decorated beautifully for passersby.

Don’t forget to consider your favorite parts of the holidays, and fit them in. Don’t compromise on these! 

It may be taking an evening drive to look at the twinkling holiday lights, enjoying a fire and some hot cocoa outside with friends, or simply settling in by yourself with a cup of tea and a good book. 

By enacting these strategies, you can anticipate the holidays with good feelings. Chances are, your relaxed and optimistic attitude will rub off on others, and they’ll be asking you about your secrets to a peaceful holiday.

No matter the time of year, we’re here to help. Contact our Cherry Hill office at 856-428-1260 to schedule an appointment, or book one with us online.