With the excitement of the holiday season often comes many unspoken expectations and stressors. Difficult family dynamics, financial strain, and to-do lists can often overshadow the joy and gratitude most hope to experience during this season. According to a 2015 poll by the American Psychological Association, holiday stress statistics show that up to 69 percent of people are stressed by the feeling of having a “lack of time,” 69 percent are stressed by perceiving a “lack of money,” and 51 percent are stressed out about the “pressure to give or get gifts.” Here are just a few tips to help avoid becoming part of these statistics this holiday season.
- Collaborate on family hopes and goals for the holidays – Allow each member to share what would be meaningful for them this season and make those desires priority.
- Give yourself the right to say no – No is a complete sentence. Allow yourself the freedom to choose how and when you serve, who you spend time with, and where your limited energy is utilized.
- Set and stick to your budget – most people will not remember what gift you gave them last year but the good memories and feelings you conveyed
- Continue healthy self-care habits – remember to take care of your own physical, mental and emotional needs through continued healthy routines and structured time management
- Allow expressions of grief and remembrance– Holidays can leave us missing traditions or loved ones no longer present. Give yourself the space and time to remember and commemorate the good times, and honor those most dear to your heart by living and experiencing the joys that the present holiday season has to give.
