Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season
By: Brooklyn A. Bradley, BS; Medically edited by Dr. Deena Kuruvilla, MD
The holidays can be a special time where we spend time with friends and family; however, it can also be a time of stress. According to a VeryWell Mind poll, more than 80% of people found the holiday season to be “somewhat” or “very” stressful [1]. So, why are the holidays so stressful?
Doing too much during the holiday season creates too much holiday stress that can take a toll on both our physical and mental health, rather than allowing us to feel that holiday joy. Saying yes to too many things during the holiday season can amplify the stress that may already be present [1]. This relates to our next point – an increase in parties, gift-giving, and holiday occasions are often in excess during this festive time. It is easy to overeat, over-drink, and overspend, which has consequences. Not only does this create stress on the mind, it can also affect the body; for example, weight gain, fatigue, trouble sleeping, and headaches. In addition, getting together with family can create mixed emotions for some people. For those who have lost partners or parents, the holiday season is a tough time, as it is a reminder of being alone [1]. On the other hand, spending more time with extended family can make it difficult to have a steady balance between bonding and alone time.
Now that we have discussed some of the reasons leading to stress during the holidays, it is important to dive deeper into ways that we can reduce stress and get through the holiday season. Our first tip is to avoid major changes to your daily routine [2]. For example, try to go to social gatherings that you usually go to, exercise at the same time, and stick to your regular diet as most as you possibly can. This leads into our next tip – try not to overindulge. It is easy to eat and drink too much at holiday occasions; however, remembering to do everything in moderation can reduce stress and feelings of guilt. Using mindfulness meditation can be a useful way to observe your daily living and look for any changes in your diet, mood, sleep, caffeine intake, and overall well-being. Next, it can be helpful to delegate [3]. It is key to remember that you are human, and only one person, and it can be difficult to take on numerous tasks by yourself. We can reduce stress by allowing others to help us. For example, if you do not know how to wrap a present, ask a friend or loved one for assistance [3]!
Another way to survive the holiday season is to practice gratitude [4]. When we are stressed, it is easy to focus on the negative. However, we can change this mindset and focus on the things that are going right, instead of focusing on the things that are going wrong. This tip can help reduce stress [4]. Lastly, it is essential to take care of yourself during the holiday season [4]. When you have increased responsibility during the holiday season, it is easy to lose sight of yourself. It is vital to take good care of both your physical and mental health during this time [3]. For physical health, you can find time to do yoga, exercise, eat nutritious food, or have a laugh with friends and family. Some ways to nurture your mental health include journalling, talking to others, listening to music, maintaining perspective, and meditating.
The holiday season can be a stressful time; however, the way that you react to stress and manage your stress can make all the difference. There may be no quick fix for how to survive the holidays; but there are things that you can do to cope with this stressful time.
References:
- How to Manage the Inevitable Holiday Season Stress. In: Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-and-managing-holiday-stress-3145230. Accessed 9 Dec 2022
- 10 Tips for Surviving the Holidays | Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/life-without-anxiety/201212/10-tips-surviving-the-holidays. Accessed 9 Dec 2022
- Five ways to reduce holiday stress. https://www.talkiatry.com/blog/reduce-holiday-stress. Accessed 9 Dec 2022
- 10 Ways to Survive the Holidays. In: Fleurish Psychotherapy. https://www.fleurishpsychotherapy.com/blog/10-ways-to-survive-the-holidays. Accessed 9 Dec 2022