National Stress-Free Family Month
Did you know that there was a national stress-free family holiday month? It is quite fitting, as there are various studies proving that the majority of the population struggle with holiday stress and some would much rather “skip” the holidays. An article from All One Health specifically stated that 69% of people are stressed due to the feeling of not having enough money or time (2018). On top of the financial and timing restrictions, 51% of the populations are overwhelmed by the pressure of receiving or giving gifts! I can definitely support these statistics with my personal experiences from the holiday season. As I have gotten older, I have seen the true purpose of the holidays fade away. We all have these insanely high expectations to get the most expensive gifts or throw the most luxurious Christmas parties. I have noticed that not only are we exceeding our limitations, but we are expected to maintain this forced “perfect” persona. For some reason we try to prove to others that we are those jolly protagonists in the Hallmark Christmas movie with “perfect” relationships and families when it is realistically quite far from the truth. The dangers of holding this facade is overlooked, as the true purpose of the holidays should be taking time to celebrate life and be appreciative.
Especially during COVID-19, many individuals cannot spend the holidays with their loved ones or have sustainable income to cover expenses. Various people are in the same boat, which is important to consider because you are not alone. It is crucial that you are taking care of yourselves during these tough times by following one of many ways to cope with holidays, and here are some recommendations from CAMH (Ferguson, 2014).
A major key is to prioritize time wisely! Planning out time to balance work, school, self-care, friends and family can be overwhelming. To help with the scheduling, you should remember to strive for balance and not perfection. Never beat yourself up that you didn’t finish the last task on your to-do list because you wanted an extra hour of sleep. Your health should always be first. In regards to health, you should be cautious with the coping strategies that you are using. Be aware of what your body is using to deal with stress, as there are many maladaptive strategies individuals fall victim to, such as alcohol or even food.
Strategies that you want to use are exercise, mediation, journaling, spending quality time with family, getting adequate rest and exploring your hobbies. Kickoff your day off by reflecting on things that you are grateful for and write them down. I can guarantee you that seeing this list will inspire you. It is so easy to stay in our heads and forget about the good things in life, so we need these daily constant reminders. You can start your day or finish the night off with a workout to release endorphins. These are hormones that are responsible for reducing tension and anxiety. So, there are ample ways to help you battle stress and it's just our duty to choose the method that works for us.
As the holidays are upon us, please remember these tips! To prioritize your health and be mindful. As we are all going through different stages in our lives, we are all trying to create a possible positive holiday too. Some of us might be grieving, feeling drained or all pumped up for this season. So make sure to spread love and care for others during this holiday season!
Sources:
Ferguson, D. (2014, December 15). Coping with Holiday Stress. Retrieved December 26, 2020, from https://www.camh.ca/en/camh-news-and-stories/coping-with-holiday-stress
Holiday Stress: Managing Holiday Stress: Stress During the Holidays. (2018, December 18). Retrieved December 26, 2020, from https://allonehealth.com/holiday-stress-guide/
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