Finding Your Happy Place: Coping with Holiday Stress

Ah, the holidays. We can picture it: The air is crisp, lights are twinkling throughout the neighborhood, your favorite holiday album is playing and your house smells like a mixture of hot apple cider and freshly-baked bread. And what is that? Oh, it’s the sparkling clean kitchen that you had time to sanitize before your visitors arrive for the meal that you prepared. All of your guests arrive on time, each bearing warm hugs and even warmer desserts (mmm, pie) — and everyone praises your healthier take on broccoli casserole.

The reality might be different for some of us, however. The picture may be something more like this: The weather outside trulyisfrightful (we’re thinking something along the lines of rainy-snow-sludge), your heater is broken, the guests all arrive an hour late and you realize, to your utmost holiday horror, that the broccoli casserole you made was an accidental mashup of the peach berry crisp recipe you printed on the same page. And cousin Jonny just spilled cranberry juice on your favorite antique tablecloth.

The holidays are a wonderful time to give thanks and spend time with family, but let’s face it: It can be a stressful time, too. So this year, why not take some time to de-stress and focus on the things that matter most — you may even find that it’s easier to help others find their happy holiday place, too.

And since stress can be a risk factor for everything from heart disease to high blood pressure to abnormal heartbeat, your heart will thank you for it. Your mind will be grateful too, as stress can contribute to anxiety and depression.

Here are our top five tips for reducing your holiday stress this season.

Sleep like a (yule) log

While it may sound simple, getting plenty of rest is a simple way to ensure that you start each day on the right foot. It’s easy to get caught up in holiday projects and marathon-watching Christmas movies on Netflix and get to bed at a late hour. Lack of sleep can cause cloudy thoughts, irritability, and generally make you less able to tackle daily tasks.The National Sleep Instituterecommends an average of seven to nine hours of sleep per night for adults, and they also recommend naps as needed for those really tough days. So go ahead, put your phone on do not disturb and count those sheep. Snuggies are optional.

Stick to your routine

It’s a hectic time of year, and as much fun as it might be to say “I’m skipping the gym today, because those cookies won’t bake themselves,” exercise will not only benefit your mental health, but also helps ensure that your winter wardrobe will continue to make you feel your most jolly.

If your day involves other routines, like a daily prayer or meditation, be sure to set aside time for that, too — after all, faith is an important part of the holidays, and honoring that will put your mind at ease.

Read More: Five Ways to Find More Time During the Holidays

Caring is sharing

By taking time to help others in your community, you’ll find that generosity not only benefits the recipient, but also the giver. Volunteering in your local churches, hospitals, shelters and other charities is also a great opportunity to spend time teaching your kids about the importance of giving to others. So, plan a shopping trip for toys or other items for charitable adopt-a-family programs, or make a meal together to give to those in need.Your local hospitalmay be a great place to share your time year-round.

Be realistic!

As much as we’d like to believe that we can do itallfor the holidays, setting unrealistic expectations can lead to stress and ultimately distract ourselves from the true meaning of the holidays: spending time with our loved ones and celebrating the traditions of our families and our faiths. While that tricky dessert recipe may have not exactly gone according to plan (no, youweren’tsupposed to add sautéed onions to the peach berry crisp), it’s okay!

Stay positive and have a sense of humor about the outcomes. Go around the dinner table during holiday gatherings and have everyone share their favorite “holiday disaster” stories — not only is it a fun way to bond with your guests, but knowing we all have thosespecialmoments can make them that much less of a big deal.

Treat yourself

Between making sure you’re shopping for and taking care of everything (and everyone) on your list, it’s also important to take a little time for yourself. Whether you take a nice walk around the neighborhood, attend an exercise class, or buy yourself that pumpkin scone you’ve had your eye on in the bakery case, rewarding yourself is a fun way to take a little moment to reflect on everything you have to be thankful for, and how you can continue to be your best self throughout the holiday season. You might find that holiday cheer staying with you into the new year, too!

Above all else, don’t be afraid to reach out to family and friends for help if the holidays get to be “too much” to handle at times. Reaching out to your family, your church members and your friends is a smart way to tackle any hard times you may face this season.

When holiday stress turns into year-round stress

If you’re experiencing stress that goes beyond seasonal stress and affects your daily life, talk to your doctor. Looking for a doctor close to home? Use ourfind-a-doc toolto find a provider at a location near you.