Five Tips for Managing Holiday Stress

The holidays are a time to come together, celebrate, and commemorate. However, along with the joy can come a lot of stress. In fact, travel, guests, social obligations, and a disruption to your normal routine can feel downright overwhelming. Nearly 40% of people report spikes in stress during the holidays, according to the American Psychological Association.

Fortunately, feeling stressed isn't an inevitable part of the holidays. Taking steps to anticipate and manage stress can help you enjoy these times. To help you get mentally prepared for this holiday season, the experts at PharmXhealthOne have put together five practical ways to keep stress in check.

1. Plan ahead by creating a holiday planner

Last minute plans, feeling rushed, and the frenzy of the holidays can leave you feeling stressed and exhausted. The demands of the holidays can rob you of the joy of this season. Planning ahead is one of the most effective ways to ease stress and increase joy during the holidays.

Consider the most important things you want to do this holiday season. Then create a priority list and put a plan of execution into place. Knowing what you're doing and how you're going to do it can help reduce stress.

2. Avoid overextending yourself

From having out-of-town guests and hosting holiday festivities to cooking large feasts and decorating, the holidays can demand a lot of your time and energy. Know that it's OK to limit your obligations.

This may mean taking on a more manageable load this holiday season. Aim to have realistic expectations, and delegate duties so you can have a balanced workload. Taking on too much can leave you feeling resentful and stretched too thin.

3. Make time for stress-reducing activities

With the frenetic pace of the holidays, it can be easy to overlook making time for yourself. Self-care is just as necessary during the holidays as it is any other time, if not more so. Taking time to enjoy some of your favorite relaxing activities can go a long way in easing holiday stress. Some ideas include:

  • Listening to soothing music
  • Going for a peaceful walk
  • Reading a book
  • Taking a warm bath
  • Sitting alone for a few minutes
  • Stretching
  • Deep breathing

4. Maintain healthy habits

The holiday season doesn't have to mean abandoning your healthy habits. Maintaining healthful habits during the holidays, such as getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, getting plenty of exercise, avoiding excess alcohol, and staying hydrated, can help keep stress levels in check. Aim to keep your schedule as close to normal as possible, including hitting the sack at the same time each night.

5. Combat loneliness

Feelings of loneliness during the holidays is another factor that can increase stress. This year, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may miss out on travel and see fewer people than you normally do, which could make you feel isolated. This holiday season may look very different due to the risks of spreading COVID-19. However, even without the complexity of the pandemic, the holidays can be lonely for many people.

Reaching out to friends and family can help you reduce the stress of isolation. If you're unable to attend in-person gatherings, make use of video messaging and phone calls to stay connected. Find creative ways to stay in touch and enjoy the holidays, even if you must do it at a distance.

For all of your primary care needs, the expert team at PharmXHealthOne has you covered.

Don't let the holidays weigh you down. To learn about our comprehensive nutrition, fitness, and weight loss programs, book an appointment online or over the phone with PharmXhealthOne today.

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