The most wonderful time of the year might not feel so wonderful to a majority of us. It turns out that holiday stress affects a greater part of the adult population.
A recent survey of 2,000 adults found that as many as 77% of the respondents said they had a “very hard time” relaxing over the holidays. Financial strain, pressure to find gifts, stressful family events, and putting up decorations, were the top 4 reasons given in the survey.
Reducing Holiday Stress isn’t Just for Peace-Of-Mind
We all know stress isn’t good for us, and if you’re struggling with your health, added stress can be especially dangerous.
Keep reading to discover our Top Ten Tips to make this holiday season the relaxing and peaceful time it was meant to be.
Ten Ways to Manage Your Stress over the Holidays
- Acknowledge your Feelings. Grief and sadness don’t go away just because it’s a holiday. If someone close to you has recently died or you can’t be with loved ones for other reasons, realize that it’s OK to take time to cry or express your feelings.
- Reach out to other people. Despite the busyness of the season, feelings of loneliness and isolation actually spike between October and January. Look for ways to combat these feelings by reaching out to other people that you care about. Volunteering to bring someone a meal, helping a local charity, and/or participating in religious or other social events are all good ways to feel more connected to the community.
- Keep Good Health Habits. It’s easy to overeat, stay up too late, and skip your workouts when you’re busy celebrating the holidays. But don’t let it turn into a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt.
- Spend time outside. If you’re feeling stressed, take a 15-minute walk outside. Studies have shown that spending time in nature can reduce your cortisol levels. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone.
- Learn to say NO. This time of the year it’s easy to overcommit, but sometimes we just have to step back and say no. Decide what’s most important to you, or where you most want to go, and allow yourself to say no to other demands on your time. This goes for holiday traditions as well. If a ritual causes you a great deal of stress, consider forming a new one.
- Accept Imperfections. Sometimes we set the bar too high and feel let down when things don’t go exactly as planned. The holidays don’t have to be perfect. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones.
- Set a Budget and stick to it. Financial strain is the number one reason for stress during the holidays. Before you do your gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Instead of buying everyone a gift, consider doing a family gift exchange.
- Rethink your New Year’s Resolutions. Many people start the New Year off by making an impossible list of resolutions, setting them up for failure. Set smaller, more realistic goals, and be kind to yourself if you’re not perfect.
- Set Aside Differences. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don’t live up to all of your expectations. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed. Chances are they’re feeling the effects of holiday stress and depression, too.
- Get Professional Help if you need it. Sometimes no matter how much we try to avoid stress, it can overcome us and lead to intense feelings of sadness, depression, and physical illness. If this happens to you, it’s important to talk to your doctor or a mental health professional immediately.
For more tips to get you through this hectic time of the year, check out this article on beating holiday stress.
If issues with your long-term disability insurance have you feeling stressed, Tucker Disability Law can help. We have over 30+ years fighting the insurance companies. We have a 98% win rate because we know the dirty tricks insurance companies use, and how to beat them!
Use the blue contact section NOW to call us, live chat with us, or message us using our confidential contact form.
At Tucker Disability Law we don’t settle for less. Neither should you.
