10 Ways to Cope with Holiday Stress
10 Ways to Cope with Holiday Stress by Cassandra McD. for Swell Made Co. Photo by Fat Camera.
It’s the holiday season, pandemic lockdowns are a thing of the past, and a lot of people are looking to celebrate with loved ones like it’s 1999. I get it. You all want to get back to normal and back to those holiday traditions that make this time of year so special. But you know the one thing you probably don’t to experience again? Holiday stress. You’ve been there, done that and it’s a hard pass for you this year.
If preparing for the holidays is more stressful than fun for you, then maybe it's time to find ways to simplify the experience and create space for you to prioritize your mental health and well-being. Here are 10 strategies for coping with holiday stress and having some fun this holiday season.
10 Ways to Cope with Holiday Stress by Cassandra McD. for Swell Made Co. Photo by Fat Camera.
10 Ways to Cope with Holiday Stress
1. Let go of perfection and aim for good enough
Preparing for the holiday season can feel overwhelming when we get caught up in trying to make it perfect. Whether it’s stringing a million-holiday lights on the house that rival your neighbours, getting the perfect tree with perfect decorations, creating the perfect family holiday card, or trying to host the perfect dinner party (complete with matching plate settings and name tags in calligraphy). It can all be a bit too much.
If planning the perfect holiday is causing you holiday stress, it might be time to take a minute and do some reflection. Remind yourself of the reason the holidays are important for you. If you can focus on creating the best experience for your loved ones who also love, then perfects there is no need to stress out about making everything perfect. Let go of perfection and embrace ‘good enough’. Focus your energy on being present and enjoying your time together.
2. Create a realistic budget and stick to it
They weren't kidding when they said pricing for everything are going up. As such, you'll likely be spending a lot more for things this holiday season than in the past. This is yet another source of holiday stress. To better handle this new reality, try to create a realistic budget and stick to it (or as close to it as possible).
This might mean you will have to have sometimes difficult conversations with family and friends about gifts and what to expect ahead of time (lowering expectations). This can also serve as a good opportunity to remind yourself and your loved ones that the holidays are not solely about gift-giving. You can have a wonderful time creating memories around the experience of getting to spend precious time with each other.
3. Shop early
Sure, you can do the last-minute gift buying you used to do but you are likely going to run into an issue of “sold out” signs. So now you end up both stressed and disappointed.
Also, given that there are still product shortages due to supply chain issues and delayed delivery of online purchases, shopping earlier makes more sense now than ever before.
Shop early and avoid stress and potential disappointment. Even if the item is not in stock, you will have ample time to find alternatives.
4. Go high when they go low and avoid the drama
Holiday stress can bring out the worst in some people. Sadly, you might find yourself on the receiving end of their frustration if you are not careful. From irate customers fighting over parking spots at crowded malls, to people in the grocery stores arguing over who should get that last piece of ham, to people snapping at each other about who was in line first, there is always drama during the holidays.
Trust me when I say, the drama is not worth it, especially if there is a risk of violence, which, let's face it, seems to be more of a possibility now than in the past. If you find yourself in a mood when shopping, go high when they go low, borrow Michelle Obama's famous line. Try to practice patience when you feel frustrated and show kindness if you can.
5. Reflect on your success for the year
If you feel that you haven't accomplished all that you've wanted to (I feel you on that), you might be surprised once you take a pen and paper and take the time to reflect on the year. You'll usually be able to find moments of joy that you'd forgotten about because you were distracted by focusing on the 'big' wins. Sometimes it’s these small things that add up to the big things so don’t count them out.
6. Prioritize gratitude
When you lead from a place of gratitude during the holidays, you can reduce your holiday stress. The material things that seemed important will seem less important. For example, there is gratitude in making it to another year. You can be grateful for your family and friends and for other experiences in your life that fill you up and make you appreciate what you have.
There was a time, not that long ago when we all lived in a place of uncertainty and constant fear and change. Be grateful for this time by reflecting on that time and how far we've come.
7. Make connections
Think about reaching out to family and friends. Set up a call, a video call, send holiday greeting cards or write a letter if you are spending the holidays alone this year or with fewer people than normal.
You might also consider volunteering with your religious institution or a local charitable organization to help during the holidays. This can provide the opportunity to meet new people while also doing good and making someone else’s life a little brighter.
8. Give Back
Studies show that doing acts of kindness makes you happier. In addition to volunteering your time, why not make the holidays more fun and less stressful through other acts of giving back.
Consider giving to your favourite charities. Donate on behalf of yourself or on behalf of a family member or friend as a gift from you. You can also think about purchasing your gifts from small businesses that donate a portion of proceeds from sales to support a good cause.
You can also get the family involved and use this as an opportunity to get the kids involved in giving back to their community and helping to make the world a better place. After all, isn't that what the holiday season is truly about?
9. Take a breather
Is your holiday to-do list very long? Are you doing too much? Slow down! Take a breather. Literally, take some deep breaths and calm yourself. Find some focus and think about ways to free up your time if you feel you are in fact over-extended.
Find ways to delegate or eliminate some tasks. Get your family involved and lean on your support network. This is also where starting early with planning and shopping really helps to relieve your holiday stress.
10. Make some time for fun and laughter
Find ways to bring more fun and less stress to the holidays. Schedule some dedicated holiday fun time, whether part of your self-care or with your family.
This might include holiday movie nights, where you take turns selecting fun, light-hearted holiday movies to watch. Think A Christmas Story, Home Alone, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf and A Charlie Brown Christmas. I’m partial to old Hollywood classics like Miracle on 34th Street, Meet Me in St. Louis and Little Women (Okay fine! I might watch a cheesy Hallmark holiday rom-com or two).
You can also set aside time for playing fun board games, puzzles, or getting the family involved in decorations, shopping and gift wrapping, or cooking meals. Or get outside for ice skating, tobogganing, or go for an evening walk and check out the decorated homes and holiday lights in your neighbourhood.
“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.”
Final Thoughts
The holidays can be incredibly stressful, but it doesn't have to be this way. This year, why not do something different and be intentional about coping with holiday stress? Find ways to minimize the holiday stress level by planning early, letting go of perfection and setting expectations. Practice patience and kindness and give back with your time or money. Don't forget to make time for fun and bring some mindfulness to the experience. As Dr. Maya Angelou said, “be present in all things and thankful for all things.”
Hope these simple strategies on ways to cope with holiday stress were helpful. Wishing you and your family a safe, stress-free, and happy holiday season!
Cassandra (she/her) is a 9-to-5er and when she’s not at her full-time gig, she’s tapping into her creative superpower as a lifestyle content creator and photographer. Her experience with career burnout has turned her into a wellness warrior who knows the power of healing through slowing down and finding calm in everyday with mindfulness, self-compassion, humour and realistic optimism.
Follow her for some inspiration on Instagram: @swaggerandgreys