Christmas is a season of joy and conviviality. But for many, it’s also one of the most stressful times of the year.

Stress arises from an imbalance between the demands placed on us and our ability to cope with them. Psychologically, stress is linked to how we cope with situations – and whether we view them as
difficult, threatening or manageable. The more difficult or threatening we consider a situation to be, the more likely we are to
feel stressed.

So it makes sense that Christmas is such a stressful time of year for many.

The pressure to make the holidays “perfect”, to spend more money than perhaps we should to meet our expectations, the struggle to balance work and school with holiday shopping, decorating and socializing can make us leave overwhelmed and exhausted.

For others, Christmas highlights feelings of loneliness, grief, or distance from loved ones. The season can be a painful reminder of
lost relationshipsfinancial difficulties or unfulfilled life goals – and this can amplify feelings of inadequacy or sadness.

Family visits can also create tension, as we are forced to interact with loved ones whose opinions or habits may conflict, leading to conflict or resurrecting unresolved differences.

But while some stress during the holidays is inevitable, there are many things you can do to cope with it — and even prevent that stress in the first place.

Plan ahead

When our brain knows what to expect, it
require less energy to find solutions. This makes it easier to manage any challenges we might face. And by planning or anticipating, it allows us to take control of our thoughts and minimize potential stressors.

Before the holidays, try to spend some time thinking about the things that tend to be sources of stress for you – and come up with a plan to avoid that stress.

For example, if preparing Christmas dinner is a source of stress for you, perhaps making a list of specific tasks that you can delegate to certain family members will help take some pressure off you.

Set limits

It’s important to learn to say “no”, rather than agreeing to whatever someone might ask of you. Understand and
respect your own limits will help you allocate your time and resources more efficiently, thereby reducing stress.

This skill takes time to develop but can be significantly beneficial to your long-term well-being. The more confident we are in our abilities to manage the challenges we face, the more successful we become.
set limits – ultimately becoming better at managing stress.

Some boundaries you could set at Christmas might include setting a budget limit for gifts so you don’t get stressed about overspending or limiting the number of social engagements you attend so you don’t burn out.

Manage expectations

It’s important to recognize that not everything is in your control. While there are many things you can plan and prepare for this Christmas, there are just as many things that are beyond your control. For example, you can’t control how others behave at your Christmas dinner, or how someone might react to a gift you bought them.

Set realistic expectations for the vacation and accept that there are things you just have to do.
I can’t control is the key to managing stress levels.

Take time to think

Another helpful way to deal with holiday stress is to take a break and connect with your feelings.

Write your thoughts on a piece of paper. Then, pause and really think about how you feel. Giving your brain a moment to process what’s going on can help you moderate your feelings. Keeping a journal can help you improve your
thoughts and moodproviding a constructive outlet for emotions.

If you’re having trouble getting along with friends and family over the holidays, pause before reacting or saying something you might not mean. This will help you feel your emotions
under control and can help reduce your stress.

Coping after the holidays

Some people may experience a low mood after the holidays – often called the “post-holiday blues” or
“post-holiday blues”.

The holiday season often brings a mix of joy and stress, creating strong emotions that leave our bodies
feeling exhausted and worn out once it’s over. It is important to recognize that these feelings are a natural response to the demands of the holiday season and not a reflection of personal inadequacy. Taking the time to recognize and accept that our body and mind are simply recovering is a crucial step toward
move forward positively.

There are many strategies you can use to manage those post-vacation blues. Activities such as regular exercise, setting realistic and achievable goals And reconnecting with others can greatly
improve our mood and stimulate “happy hormones” such as endorphins.

By consciously planning ways to recharge and stay connected, we can shift our focus from the lows we may have experienced during the holidays to a more balanced outlook as we approach the new year.