3 Strategies To Manage Holiday Stress Successfully

Do you feel stressed during the holiday season? You are not the only one - cooking meals, baking, shopping, decorating, cleaning, and entertaining while maintaining daily tasks can easily become overwhelming and stressful. Often times we forget that the holiday season is meant to be a joyful time, an opportunity to connect with loved ones, and a time to be thankful.

A consistent sense of feeling pressured and overwhelmed over a long period of time (lasts for weeks or months) indicates chronic stress. This type of stress creates higher levels of cortisol which can influence the cognitive processes of the brain, leading to impairments in attention, memory, and emotional processing. Aches and pains, insomnia or sleepiness, low energy, irritability or mood changes, hypertension, gut disfunction – the list of stress symptoms are long. For sure it has an impact on your levels of health, happiness, and wellbeing.

Implement the three strategies below to manage your holiday stress more successfully. Create a joyful, happy, and healthy time for you and your loved ones’.

Strategy #1 Plan Ahead

Plan to prevent last-minute scrambling. Map out your month of November and December. Plan and find a spot in your calendar for your shopping, meals, and other activities. Consider who can help with chores, preparations, and cleaning. Plan your budget to stay within your financial limits.

Strategy #2 Check-In WIth Yourself

Check-in with yourself and gain awareness of what your stressors are throughout your holiday season. What stresses you most? What are your triggers? Where can you make changes? Who can you ask for help? How do you feel? What is most important to you during this time? Which health habits do you have upkeep? Setting intentions and keeping a gratitude journal will help you stay positive. Check-in frequently to stay on track.

Strategy #3 Learn To Say No

Choose wisely when to say yes and when to say no. Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed, creating stress. You can't participate in every activity, friends, and colleagues will understand.

This content is not based on a specific research study. It is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider with any health concerns. Please read the full Terms and Conditions here.