November kicks off the holiday season. The decorating, the shopping and the social events. Just because it’s the holiday season, doesn’t mean it’s the happiness season.
For many, this season kicks off feelings of dread, loneliness, stress and anxiety. Not everyone looks forward to the holiday events. For many, this season adds more stress to an already overtaxed financial and emotional budget. The expectations of holiday gift-giving, revisiting old family dynamics, over-scheduling of events and feelings of loneliness can triggers symptoms of anxiety and depression.
What steps can you take to manage the holidays season?
- Keep your expectations real. The point of the gathering is to celebrate the holiday, so be in the moment. It is not the time to discuss unresolved issues or current discord with a family member.
- Be honest about your time commitment to others and share it with them early on. Say no to situations, people or time frames that won’t work for you or your family.
- Seek out support. Reach out to those that know your situation and support you the best. Let them know how they can support you.
- Modify your plans/traditions. Maybe try a different time or day to have the event so everyone is less stressed. Try a breakfast gathering with a simpler menu and well rested guests or setting aside a different day where no one feels rushed.
- Combining #4 and #5. By seeking out support and modifying your traditions, you can start some new traditions. Have your own “Friendsgiving” or holiday party where expectations are low and the focus is fun.
- Remember your self-care. Set some time aside for yourself to ‘debrief’ from the stress and dynamics of the holidays. Prioritize getting adequate sleep, stress-reducing exercise and participating in activities that make you feel good.
- Acknowledge your feelings. It’s not our feelings that are judged, but how we manage them. Practice some strategies such as grounding exercises, meditation or things your can do to stay busy that will help you manage your feelings.
- Remember this is temporary. The holiday season just lasts a few weeks and gatherings are just a few hours. Then they are done (until next year 😉 ).