The holiday season can be quite tricky for many people. On one hand, it’s a time full of parties, celebrations, and reunions with family and friends. On the other hand, it can also bring a lot of stress. What one person loves about the holidays might feel torturous to another.
Not everyone looks forward to visiting home, and some feel so overwhelmed by the constant parties and gatherings that they don’t even enjoy them.
And the stress doesn’t necessarily end once the holidays are over. Here are five ways to tackle both pre- and post-holiday stress this year.
In 2015, Americans accumulated an average of $986 in extra holiday debt, with over half of them using credit cards to cover it. The downside of this much debt is facing months of repayments, complete with interest. While paying with credit might ease your holiday stress, it can lead to more stress later on. A better approach is to start saving early and only spend what you’ve saved. If it’s too late for that this year, at least set a budget and try to minimize your credit card use. Your stress levels will thank you come spring.
Holidays are often packed with endless social obligations. While some thrive on this, many find it exhausting. Whether you manage to snag a few hours for yourself or a full weekend, make sure to take some personal time. Like your phone, you need to unplug and recharge. This is also a perfect opportunity for a digital detox. Though our devices help people stay connected, they can also make you feel spread too thin. Turn off your phone for a few hours or days to reconnect with what’s important to you.
With all the holiday chaos, your fitness routine is often one of the first things to suffer. Don’t push yourself to maintain peak performance, but try to fit in a few workouts. The holidays come with rich foods and energy-draining activities. Despite the joy, many people also feel the “holiday blues.” Exercise can boost your mood and energy, so if you’re feeling down, go for a run, walk, jog, or even a quick yoga session.
During the holidays, most of your attention is on others—shopping, cooking, and entertaining. While this isn’t bad, you also need to take care of your own needs. Taking some personal time is a good start, but don’t hesitate to pamper yourself a bit. Whether it’s booking a massage, taking a long bath, or buying yourself a nice gift, remember that you deserve a happy holiday too.
One of the toughest and most crucial ways to reduce holiday stress is creating boundaries. Decide how many parties you’ll attend, inform your parents or in-laws if you can’t make it home, and even tell your boss you can’t work overtime. Setting good boundaries during the holidays is essential for your well-being. It’s important year-round, but especially hard during the holidays because the guilt can be high. Accept that you might disappoint some people and that it’s okay. Their happiness shouldn’t depend entirely on you.
A big key to minimizing holiday stress is shifting away from the mindset of everything you “have to” do. Besides eating and sleeping, there’s very little you genuinely have to do during the holidays. Just because others want you to feel obligated doesn’t mean you are. Give yourself the freedom to do more of what you want and less of what you think you “have” to do this holiday season.