4 Ways to End Holiday Anxiety
How to Cope With Holiday Fears and Christmas Anxiety
During this holiday season, use expert advice to keep holiday anxiety to a minimum. Christmas anxiety in particular can be overwhelming!
Holiday anxiety stems from gift-giving (what should I give my mother-in-law, brother, kids, sister, boss, mailperson, courier, and neighbors???) to entertaining. The whole season breeds holiday stress. Throw in money, weight gain, insanely busy schedules, bad weather, and no time to exercise – and you’re struggling with holiday anxiety. The holiday shopping season alone can drive you around the bend.
"The holidays are supposed to be a time full of joy and cheer, parties and family gatherings," says James Radack of the National Mental Health Association. "But many factors help make the holidays so stressful: fatigue, unrealistic expectations, commercialization, financial constraints, and the inability to be with one's family and friends." Christmas anxiety and holiday stress can be psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually deadening.
4 Ways to End Holiday Anxiety
1. Get specific and practical. Figure out exactly what you’re stressed about and deal with it. If you’re worried about money, then do a gift exchange and draw names in your family or research inexpensive, easy homemade gifts (eg, jars of dry cookie mix or a card detailing exactly what you and others love and appreciate about someone). Consider Christmas gift shopping online, but do it early! If you’re worried about your diet and exercise, schedule specific times to exercise – and stick with your plan. Deal with holiday stress in practical ways because holiday anxiety increases when you feel like you have no control.
2. Ask for help. If you’re cooking dinner for the family and are filled with holiday anxiety, solicit help from your friends and family. If you don’t know what gifts to give to family and friends, ask for suggestions. If you’re worried that your uncle will get drunk and mean, contact a counselor or family member for practical ways to prevent or alleviate the situation. Ending holiday anxiety involves reaching out to others, especially over the Christmas season. Holiday stress and Christmas anxiety will be easier to overcome when you don’t feel like you’re in it alone.
3. Accept imperfection. The family will fight, the gifts will disappoint, the dog will knock down the tree, and the turkey will be dry. It’s inevitable that some troubles will arise during the holiday season; going with the flow and accepting the flaws as part of life is key in reducing Christmas anxiety. Holiday stress – many types of stress – comes from unrealistic expectations. When you accept the imperfections, you’ll reduce holiday stress because you’ll have realistic goals and expectations.
4. Treat yourself well. Pamper yourself with a massage, pedicure, manicure or day spa (but book it early!). Work up a sweat by skating, snowshoeing or exercising at the gym – physical activity is one of the best ways to reduce holiday anxiety. Express your feelings to a friend, in your journal, or with music. Get enough sleep. Go to a movie in the middle of the day. Indulge in some chocolate or holiday baking, but don’t overindulge. Reducing Christmas anxiety and making holidays happy involves treating yourself well.
If you found 4 Ways to End Holiday Anxiety helpful, try:
- Beating the Winter Blues
- 65 Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress
- How to Stop Worrying
- If You Can't Fall Asleep Fast
