Managing Holiday Stress

The list of things to do during the holiday season may seem overwhelming: purchasing gifts, baking, school performances, finding the perfect tree, decorating, entertaining and the list could go on. How does one get it all done without becoming overly stressed?

First, have realistic expectations. Not everything has to be flawless and it is impossible to attend every holiday function that you are invited to. Know your limits. Make a list of your expectations for the holidays and prioritize what are the most important. Would it be very upsetting to you to miss the annual Christmas parade but do you find attending the office party a bore? Take the kids to the parade and let go of the guilt of not spending time with co-workers that you see forty hours a week.
Secondly, abandon finding the “perfect gift.” You can spend umpteen hours deciding what to purchase for everyone in your family. There is nothing wrong with buying people what they have asked for. Research has actually shown that people are more satisfied with something they have asked for compared to something you think they will like.

Additionally, know that the holidays can often increase depressive symptoms. If you are prone to sadness or have a depression diagnosis, practice self-care. Talk to your spouse or a close friend about sad feelings. It is amazing how much better you can feel after expressing yourself to someone who cares. Take some down time each day. Your stress will increase if you are going nonstop from morning till night. Take a warm bubble bath, read a good book or simply sit quietly in a room by yourself for fifteen minutes or more.

Finally, learn how to delegate. If you bought the majority of the gifts, enlist another family member to wrap them. Make a list of the people you want to send cards to and ask your pre-teen to address the envelopes. Better yet, send a New Year’s card instead of a Christmas cards which you can complete after the tree is put away.

While the holiday season could never be stress-free, the effects can be lessened by acknowledging that it is a busy time of year, modifying your expectations, practicing self-care and asking others for assistance in getting it all done.