Five Ways to Manage Anxiety, Stress, and Depression During the Holidays

The holiday season is a time of joy, love, exchanging gifts, and spending time with the ones we love. For most people, it is one of the few times that expressing feelings of gratitude is easy. For others, it is a time of anxiety, grief, and feelings of solitude. Most of us have spent the last few weeks ordering the perfect gift, baking cookies for Santa Helpers, taking family pictures, and participating in elf on the shelf games.

Our calendars are filled with activities and goals we desire to complete before the New Year. If we are not careful, we can easily become consumed in a to-do list and find ourselves overwhelmed, and not fully enjoying life’s precious moments. We have learned over the last two years how important it is not to take friends, family, time, and the ability to hold the one we love for granted.

During this busy season, do you have a plan to protect your mental health? Do you need tools to help you prioritize your to-do list and set boundaries? Below I share five tips to help manage anxiety, stress, and depression during this season.

Set Boundaries:

Setting financial boundaries during the holiday season is very important. It is easy to dive into the giving spirit without creating a budget. Decide what your budget will be and stick to it. This may mean you have to be creative and make your budget stretch. Creating debt you have to deal with after the holidays is no fun. If you notice there are some last-minute gifts you need to buy, see if there is anything you may be able to “re-gift” or think outside the box. For example, create a sentimental gift of photos or keepsakes that you weren’t able to share over the last two years.

Set emotional boundaries during this season. Surround yourself with people who make you feel good about yourself and bring out the best in you. Don’t put yourself in environments that are negative or stressful for you. This may mean that you don’t attend a family gathering, or that you limit conversations with certain family members who are not able to have respectful conversations. Take the time to recognize your triggers and make a conscious decision to not participate in activities or conversations that risk negatively altering your energy.

Maintain Healthy Habits:

Set a goal to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine during this season. It is easy to get off track with all the holiday parties and family gatherings. Try eating a meal before you arrive at the party to avoid overeating.

Keep your exercise routine. A consistent exercise routine is great for your mental health. With all the extra activities you have planned, it is easy to get off track if you don’t schedule a time to exercise during the holidays. Consistent exercise can also help maintain a healthy weight.

Try not to consume too much alcohol. It is ok to celebrate with family and friends, but do so in moderation.

Meditate and Focus on Thoughts of Gratitude:

During the holidays, it is hard to not think of the ones we love that are no longer here with us. When you find yourself sad and lingering in sorrow, remember the good times that you shared with them and find joy in the memories.

Share those memories with your children. Carry on the traditions that you once shared with that family member with the loved ones you still have. Make their favorite cake or watch their favorite movie, and try to find reasons to be thankful.

Start your day with thoughts of gratitude and positive affirmations, and enjoy life and its precious moments.

Share Holiday Task:

During this season it is not uncommon to want everything perfect. For example, a perfect house when guests arrive; a perfect table setting; or a perfect dinner dessert. While trying to make everything perfect, it is easy for anxiety levels to rise.

Instead of taking on every task, try delegating or hiring extra help. For example, hire a cleaning service to clean the house while you complete a self-care activity (massage, nails, and hair) so that you look and feel your best for family gatherings. Consider having a potluck Christmas dinner so that all the cooking is not a burden to you. It is ok to have everything you want without taking on all the responsibility.

Seek Professional Help:

Be aware of your feelings and don’t ignore them. If you are struggling with negative thoughts and emotions, find someone to talk to. Give yourself permission to schedule a therapy session. Growing up, no one talked about or used therapy to help them heal or manage difficult situations. We were encouraged to be strong and get through it. I want to let you know that your feelings are valid, and therapy does not make you weak. If you have a history of negative thoughts during this season, I encourage you to schedule a therapy session as a preventative measure.

I hope that during the last few days of the holiday season, you find these tools and tips helpful. Remember to give the gift of love and kindness to yourself and others.

As you review your checklist, you may note that you have accessorized your home and your Christmas tree. I encourage you to not forget to “Make Wellness your Best Accessory”.

Your Sister in Wellness,

Lauren