Stress Management Tips for Joy-Filled Holidays
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), about 44% of women and 31% of men in the U.S. usually experience high-stress levels during the holiday season, which makes holiday stress management important. The leading causes of stress during this period include, among others, greater responsibilities, financial pressures, and unmet expectations. Even worse, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the associated COVID-19 control measures may have a negative impact on your holiday plans, causing you to feel additional stress. In fact, more than 50% of American adults are increasingly reporting negative impacts on their well-being and mental health due to stress and worry over COVID-19, as reported by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).
Here is a look at four ways to manage stress around the holidays.
1. Avoid Financial Stress
A recent survey published on the Study Finds website indicates that 28% of Americans go into debt due to holiday spending, with an average person overspending by $489. Most holiday debt takes more than three months to repay, causing long-term stress for those who owe money. Although financial stress is common in American, it is likely to get worse this year largely due to pandemic-related job losses. According to the Pew Research Center, more than 14 million Americans have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the things you can do to avoid financial stress include:
• Avoiding debt
• Shunning random gift exchanges
• Tracking your holiday expenses
• Shunning expensive holiday traditions
2. Lower Your Expectations
It’s perfectly normal to expect good things during the holidays. For example, there’s nothing wrong with expecting to have a joyful get-together with your distant relatives or anticipating that everything goes according to plan. The bad news is that unmet expectations can cause disappointment. For example, you may feel bad if the biggest holiday surprise you’ve been waiting for doesn’t happen. Similarly, after working so hard to cook the tastiest meal ever, you might have to deal with guests complaining about your food. In such stressful moments, you should use humor to distract your mind, according to an article published in Psychology Today. Also, start your holidays with more realistic expectations.
3. Make Self-care a Priority
No matter how much you try to avoid stress, it will come looking for you at some point during the holidays. Therefore, start working on strategies to help you manage stress around the holidays and boost your immunity to reduce your risk of catching COVID-19. Some of the ways you can take care of yourself during the holidays include, among others:
• Booking a massage
• Eating healthy
• Spending time with people who make you happy
• Working out
It is worth noting that adequate self-care will help maintain your emotional, physical, and mental reserves for better prevention and management of stress, as reported by Amherst College.
4. Help the Needy
A recent survey by the Association for Psychological Science (APS) found that helping others reduces stress. Helping others promotes positive thoughts and enhances well-being. With all of the holiday stress, showing up at a nearby shelter, or giving a homeless person a meal can go a long way in helping you manage it.
These are some handy tips to help you manage stress around the holidays. For extra peace of mind, ensure that you carry the right insurance coverage. If you need help with any kind of insurance, contact the experts at Remland Insurance in Orange, California. Our team is available to provide guidance even during the pandemic.
