From the Behavioral Health Ministry: Turn Hassle into Joy
For most of us, holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas usually equal festive parties, delicious recipes and the much needed time off from work. But for some it’s becoming less and less joyous and more stressful. Whether finances, family dynamics or other worries are at play, not everyone is excited about the added stresses that the holidays can bring.
Reasons why holidays can become a load of stress
- Work-life balance. For some of us, before being able to detach from the office chaos, there are tons of deadlines to meet. If you are living a regular 9 to 5 or are in college, life is usually the toughest as Christmas approaches. Annual reports, project deadlines and finals mixed with holiday planning and gift shopping, the stress can easily skyrocket.
- The perfectionist tendencies. One of the most common reasons of holidays turning into horrors is the unrealistic expectations of a “perfect” holiday. Big meals, fancy decors, travel plans, thoughtful gifts … we all have our own interpretation of how Christmas or any special occasion should be. And our own definition of perfect holidays can be emotionally and financially demanding.
- Holidays make tough times tougher. When you are sad, in grief or simply feeling down, holidays may put extra burden on the shoulder. TV, magazines and social media are flooded with the picture-perfect holiday scenes, which makes surviving the holiday depression even tougher.
Tips to Beat Holiday Stress:
What do you enjoy the most during holidays? Understand the need of each family member and have a plan for everything. Spare at least half an hour a day for self-care or simply to treat yourself. Holiday is all about sharing, not only love and joy, but also responsibilities.
Holidays won’t magically make all the pain go away. Turning hassles into happiness can be simple if you implement these holiday de-stress techniques.
