The Holidays are a special time of the year, because we get to spend time with those we love the most. With that it does come with a great amount of stress, including consuming a great amount of food or expectations around family and gifts. In today’s article I am going to give you some different ways that you can go through the holidays guilt and stress free.
How the holidays have affected our mental health?
24% of people living with a mental illness found that the holidays made their symptoms “a lot worse.” 40% of people living with a mental illness found that the holidays made their symptoms “somewhat worse.” Roughly 755 respondents reported that the holidays added to them feeling sad or dissatisfied. Life Works
Approximately 755 of overall respondents reported that the holidays contribute to feeling sad or dissatisfied and 68% financially strained. 66% of participants have experienced loneliness, 63% too much pressure and 57% unrealistic expectations. NAMI
There are so many expectations around the holidays, gifts needing to be bought, parties to attend, and numerous family reunions. The stress is endless for most of us, especially if you have a dysfunctional family or a divorced family. That is not to say that the holidays can’t still be enjoyed as long as you can manage your stress and prioritize what’s best for you and your family. Here are some ways you can manage your stress effectively.
Value your time
Since you will be spending a lot of time with family and loved ones, it is a great idea to value the “down time” get, such as taking advantage of your "PTO." When we value our down time and give ourselves a little reboot we then can be fully energized for those around us. Some ways you can value your time wisely;
- Getting a massage: a massage is great for releasing stress and to help with relaxing, boosting your energy, and even enhancing your mood.
- Reflect on your past year: take some time to actually sit down and reflect on the last year; your wins, losses, & what you would like to work on going into the new year.
- Connect with your significant other: During the holidays and your time away from work you should make it a priority to spend time with your significant other. Some ideas for you are, have a night planned where you guys trade gifts, or have a night with no cell phones and enjoy a nice dinner together. Spending time with your spouse or partner will help you to feel supported and at ease before the holidays begin.
- Exercise: Just doing 10-15 minutes of exercise a day is enough to help alleviate stress, improve blood circulation and boost your confidence.
Stay present
Visiting family can be stressful especially when you haven’t seen some in a very long time. A great way to manage your stress is with intention setting meditation. Intention setting meditation is done by focusing on your breathing, while also setting a positive intention for yourself. This helps set the mind up for a positive experience instead of a stressful one.
Some intentions you can use:
1. I intend to love unconditionally
2. I intend to see the goodness around me
3. I intend to be kind even under pressure
4. I intend to suspend judgment and accept life as it is in the moment
Bring healthy options to the party
One of the biggest worries during the holidays is the amount of food we consume. Though it seems hard, you can make the holidays healthier by bringing an alternative to one of your favorite traditional dishes. Get creative and make a dish that you and your family can enjoy. Some easy fun recipes are linked below;
Make connection your number one priority
Life gets to be busy and can take away time that we could be spending with our loved ones. We can all look at the holidays as a chance to connect with one another. So, take advantage of this time and make every moment count by following some of the simple steps listed above.
Summary
Overall we all know that the holidays can be a huge burden on our lives, but at the end of the day it’s about the connection we get to make with our loved ones. By valuing the time you have off, creating a present mindset, setting yourself up for success, and remember the meaning of Christmas will help you to get through the holidays guilt and stress free.
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