What is Holiday Stress & How to manage it

8 Sources of Holiday Stress and 4 strategies to manage it.

Sources of Holiday Stress

The holidays are traditionally a season of cheer, comfort, and connection. While parts of our experience might be like this, many of us (89% to be specific!) also relate to holidays being a complex experience.

Here are 8 potential sources of Holiday Stress

Social isolation and loneliness

This is a season where several gatherings occur within a short period of time in lieu of the celebrations. For those of us who have lost or cut off connection with family or friends, this can be a particularly lonely period as we may not have as many gatherings to go to.

In fact, even if we are invited to these gatherings and are surrounded by people, many of us might also feel lonely as we feel disconnected from those we are meant to be close to.

Strain on social and financial capacities

‘Tis the season of giving. But not everyone has, materially, the capacity to. The sudden flux of social gatherings typically come with the expectation that we contribute, in some way, with our attendance. This might mean gifts for children or bringing food to the party. For those of us who are time and financially strapped, this pressure can be challenging to manage. We might also find ourselves exhausted from the intensity of managing several social gatherings in a short span of time.

Feeling unsafe with others at gatherings

In an ideal world, we would only be invited to gatherings where we felt safe with everyone in attendance. Unfortunately, this might not be the case for some of us who do not have control over the guestlist or who struggle with more complex family dynamics. This can make the situation tricky to navigate socially.

Challenges with alcohol consumption

Everyone can have a different relationship with alcohol. For some, consuming alcohol socially is comfortable. For others, this is not the case. Alcohol is commonly consumed during festivities and the decision to not partake in this can be met with questions that are uncomfortable to answer. Staying intentional about our consumption during these gatherings can also be challenging for some of us.

Feeling disappointment

As we close the year with celebrations, many of us also take the opportunity to review our lives and goals. This might bring up disappointment in several areas of our lives. We might feel disappointment that our connections are not as we’d like or that we have not reached our previously set goals.

Managing family conflicts

Gatherings sound like a great idea, provided everyone gets along well. Especially with alcohol in the picture, some tense family dynamics might come to surface during these holiday gatherings. The anticipation of these conversations might trigger distress for some of us.

Grief and loss

Losing loved one is a difficult part of life. Holidays can bring these feelings up, like a wave washing over us.

Grief doesn’t only apply to losing loved ones. Grief around a vision of our future or a version of ourselves, might also be experienced as we take stock of where we are at in our lives at the close of 2023.

Increased work demands

The close of the year is often associated with business winding down. However, this is not often the case. In fact, workloads might increase as several companies rush to complete work tasks and tie up projects in anticipation for everyone else winding down. Alongside the social demands of this season, this might feel overwhelming.

Strategies to Manage Holiday Stress

1. Set clear boundaries

   In a season where demands are competing and high, setting clear boundaries is key. This helps us protect our needs to better engage in parts of our lives that we prioritise.

   This can look like:

   • Setting a spending budget

   • Preparing a script on how to respond to hurtful comments

   • Thinking of a plan to manage high-risk situations

2. Allow yourself comfort

   Taking time to soothe ourselves, even when we don’t feel overtly upset, is helpful for us to regulate amidst the heightened activities in this season.

   This can look like:

   • Wearing comfortable clothes

   • Listening to soothing music

   • Taking time away from your devices

   • Journalling

   • Sticking to a wind-down routine at the end of the day

3. Be intentional with your time

   9184 things to do in 24 hours feels overwhelming! Prioritise who and how you want to spend your time this holiday season.

   This can look like:

   • Limiting your social engagements to make time for yourself

   • Developing a shared social calendar with your spouse

   • Communicating when and how long you will be at gatherings

4. Seek support

   You don’t need to manage all of this alone. Check in with your therapist around their holiday availabilities so that you can get through the holiday supported. If you don’t currently have support, there are therapists available during the holidays precisely because of these stressors.

TLDR;

This season can be complex for several reasons. And, there can still be room for joy. Try some of the strategies above to help you engage and stay present, wherever you choose to be. Happy Holidays!