VIII. Managing Stress around the Holidays

It’s not unusual for stress levels to rise around the holiday periods. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and others can all seem like stressful times to some. But these periods don’t have to be more stressful.

Some pressures and situations are unique to holiday periods.

The weather can be an issue, with people having difficulty getting to other places, and it can also make people uncomfortable. Though they are relatively minor issues, if the situation continues for a long period of time, stress can result.

Buying presents, sometimes for people you don’t really care that much for, can be a burden for many people. If you’re restricted to a tight budget, this can become even more of a hassle. The ‘Christmas Crush’ is a big contributor, with large amounts of traffic and crowds everywhere.

Individually, one of these problems probably won’t cause stress, but when several issues combine, people can become tense. There are also other factors that can occur at any time, but add to the pressure around holiday times. Deadlines at your workplace can be hard to meet, especially if co-workers have already begun their holiday. Health problems are a large cause for many people’s stresses, and conditions are often aggravated around holiday periods. Many people also stress about money all year round, and this becomes more pronounced during the holidays with additional costs to bear.

The core basis of stress is a struggle between “I must” and “I can’t”. To combat stress, look at your situation, and decide if it really is a ‘must’. An example is buying presents for family members. While it might be traditional to do so, it is not something you have or ‘must’ do. You might even consider suggesting a Kris Kinglet, so that you’re only then obligated to buy for one family member.

Once you’ve dealt with “I must”, look at "I can't".

Getting organized before the holiday period can make things much easier. If this isn’t a possibility, consider shopping online, or visiting stores that are not part of large shopping centeres. It may take slightly longer if you need to visit a couple of stores, but people tend to flock to shopping centres, leaving single retailers alone.

Planning ahead can also be helpful. If you know what you need to buy, even if you don’t choose to purchase it until closer to the holiday period, can take a lot of stress out of the equation. Setting up a savings account at the beginning of the year is also a great way to reduce stress. And don’t overspend when it comes to buying presents. Set a limit, and stick to it.

For most people, there are many extra things they have to do around a holiday season, and it can be challenging to get everything done. But no challenge has to cause stress. Simply look at the situation and work out what you can do. Let worry go about things you have no control over, and you’ll find that your stress levels recede immediately.

Date: 2015-04-20; view: 821