The Most Stressful Time of The Year! Tips On Coping with Holiday Stress
The holiday season is often painted as the “most wonderful time of the year,” filled with family gatherings, festive traditions, and sparkling lights. But for many people, it can also be one of the most stressful times.
Tambra Lipper
12/18/20254 min read
Hi! So today I'm going to talk about holiday stress. This time of year, is just really stressful. Social obligations, affording presents, the shopping rush, all of it. I've never really liked shopping, so Christmas just makes it worse. I get super anxious. I'm going to offer some tips that can help you with that and hopefully you can use them for yourself.
Don't overschedule yourself. You have the whole month of December and January to fit in social obligations. Don't put everything in the week of Christmas or the week of New Year's. Some obligations you can't do that such as work or your kid's school. But with friends and family you can be more flexible. Don't lump everything in all at once, spread it out a little bit so it won't be so overwhelming.
Traveling during the holidays. Good luck and God speed on that one. Just kidding. If you are flying somewhere go to the airport early. With travel restrictions and security lessening somewhat, it isn't necessary to go to the airport super early like before, but I like to get there at least 2 hours early so that I can go through security, walk around, grab a coffee, and just relax before my flight. Also, don't wait until right before you leave to buy tickets. As the holidays get closer ticket prices skyrocket. Buy your tickets early to eliminate being overcharged. Plus, you get choice of seating when you buy early as well.
Gift giving. Don't overspend and rack up credit card debt for Christmas gifts. It isn't worth it. Children don't care if the presents you buy are super expensive. You can get them a cheap little toy at the Dollar Tree, and they would be just as happy. And adults will understand if you are strapped for cash. Try to budget or buy presents early. Start in September and spread it out so it doesn't empty your wallet.
Family Obligations. This is a hard one. It is because not everyone has a perfect loving Hallmark Channel kind of family. Some families can be very volatile and toxic and exposing yourself to that every year is difficult. Only you can determine whether or not it is worth being around that. I myself have had to walk away from family drama so if that is something you decide to do, don't feel bad about it. Sometimes it is necessary for your well-being.
Loneliness. This time of year, can be super lonely and isolating. You can be in a crowded room and still feel lonely. Surround yourself with people that care about you. If you don't have that, volunteer at a shelter or animal shelter. See if the church down the road needs help or attend a service. Call someone you haven't talked to in a while, maybe they are feeling lonely too.
Perfectionism. Ladies this one is for you because I am just as bad lol. Not everything has to be perfect. And if you have kids running around it's going to chaos and pandemonium. Roll with it. If everyone is having a good time, that's all that matters. Also delegate tasks. Instead of cooking everything, have everyone bring a dish to share.
Honor Those That Have Passed. I have family and friends that have passed away. This time of year, makes me feel nostalgic and I get a little sad because I miss them. Light a candle, say a prayer and honor their memory. Cry a little and remember the good times. By remembering those that have left before us keeps them alive in our heart.
Self-care. This is the time for indulgence. Drinking, eating, not exercising, sleeping in on our days off. I get it. But make sure to set aside some time to take care of yourself. Maybe not eat so much or not drink as much alcohol. As we age that kind of stuff creeps up on us and we pay for it later lol. Eating poorly does affect your immune system. 80% of our immune system is directly linked with our gut health. Plus being in crowds raises the risk of catching a cold or COVID. So, try to limit the treats as much as you can.
Respect Differences. I see on the news a lot about people cutting off friends and family because they don't believe the same way you do. They cut them off and never see them again. And I'm going to be honest and say that this may upset some people, but I think that's very immature behavior. And it's also disrespectful because all of us have gone through our own journey in life which has developed how we feel and how we think about things. By cutting someone off like that, you're completely disregarding and disrespecting their journey. We all have that crazy relative that likes to talk about politics at the dinner table. Ignore them. Get up and leave the room. Put some earbuds in and drown them out. In the South, we have a social etiquette thing of the 2-hour minimum. So, you go, you stay the obligatory 2 hours, and you get out. Knowing that you only need to tolerate it for 2 hours makes it easier to do. So don't cut people off because they think differently than you. Honor the person that they are and overlook the differences that way.
Seasonal Depression. I covered this in a previous blog and Youtube video. Please read that blog and watch the video for tips on how to cope with depression. It can be debilitating and if those tips don't help then seek professional guidance.
That's it for today. I hope these tips were helpful to you. Please watch my Youtube video where I expand on these topics. Thank you, Take Care and Be Well.
