The holidays have a way of hitting people hard and from every angle. Once Thanksgiving hits, it’s easy to feel like you’re rushing from one obligation to the next. However, your mental health can take a hit amidst the demands of the holidays. If you don’t manage it, you can find yourself burnt out, stressed, and suffering for the sake of the holiday hustle. This year, prioritize your mental health and give yourself the gift of an enjoyable holiday season.
1. Manage Unrealistic Expectations
Before Pinterest, magazines and holiday showcases set the standard for holiday cheer. Add in the human tendency to “keep up with the Joneses,” and you have a recipe for disappointment. There will always be others whose holidays seem to be perfect, but it’s not reality. If you’re prone to play the comparison game, focus on what you know to be true.
Make a list of the good things about your life, even if you’re in a challenging season. Think about what the holidays truly mean to you. Family, friends, and faith are favorites of many people, with the common theme of being together. It’s important to avoid prioritizing stuff.
If you’re managing a diagnosis like depression, work with your therapist to devise a holiday plan. This might be limiting your availability for gatherings or scripting how you’ll respond to questions or hold your boundaries. You may determine that more focused support is needed by pursuing rehab for depression. There, you’ll immerse yourself in a setting where you can heal and learn strategies to cope after you leave.
2. Lessen Financial Stress
There’s no denying the financial demands of the holidays. Add in the realities of inflation across essential categories and your already strapped budget is screaming for mercy. Take a breath and refocus on the reason you give, host, and gather — love. Oftentimes, gifts are a reflection of how much you care for one another, and they’re not about the expense.
Focus on thoughtful gifts that show you care and pay attention to the recipient’s interests. Make something special using your unique talents, which are often among the most meaningful to receive. Whether it’s a handmade blanket, crusty sourdough, or cookies, gifting doesn’t have to add to financial stress.
Set boundaries around how your home handles financial demands. If your extended family goes all-out and your kids take note of the difference, it can feel defeating. Think about how you’ll handle those questions before they come to manage anxieties. Doing so can help you visualize the conversation beforehand and focus on being thoughtful and empathetic.
End-of-year goals, skeleton crews, and holiday commitments make work tough during the festive season. Meet with your colleagues to ensure there’s adequate coverage at work. If not, sort out how to adjust work hours, availability, and expectations so you can be less stressed. This practice can address concerns before they become problems and establish expectations.
If you work in customer service, you may need to accept longer wait times. If you’re in sales, you may need to confirm how overtime hours are compensated. Speak up about your specific questions and worries, too. If your personal needs or commitments require consideration, make sure your boss understands them.
Sometimes, companies don’t follow their established policies and instead take advantage of employees. Refamiliarize yourself with company policy surrounding work hours and time off to ensure you’re being treated fairly. If not, reach out to HR for support and guidance.
4. Breathe Through Milestones and Memories
Sharing memories of holidays gone by can bring people together. But when you’re navigating grief, doing so can reopen an already aching wound. Acknowledge what you know about your reality to establish a foundation of truth. This exercise can be centering, separating feelings from reality.
If your parents passed away recently, it’s easy to imagine what they’d do if they were here. Instead of running through “what-if” scenarios, focus on how you can honor their memory. Celebrate a holiday tradition that you shared like a festive light display. Or do an act of service that would be meaningful to them like donating toys for children.
Use the holiday season to celebrate those you have in your life while sharing and making memories together. When you do, you can turn grief into joy and let your loved one’s favorite traditions live on.
5. Delegate the Responsibility of Holiday Cheer
The responsibilities of holiday happenings have a way of falling to the first person to say yes. And before you know it, an innocent attempt at being helpful has you as the go-to for everything jolly. Over time, this expectation can bring on feelings of resentment and take away from your ability to enjoy the holidays.
Take charge and delegate responsibilities to others who attend your holiday gatherings. For example, you could set the expectation that all attendees should pitch-in food, tableware, or drinks. Get organized and use a spreadsheet, send reminders, and make the assignment known. It will take effort to get folks on board, but doing so is worth it long-term.
Protect your time, budget, and sanity by sticking to what you’ve planned. Trim down on the extras if that helps reduce stress. Empower others to step up on clean-up duty as well. Set the tone for next year and leave the option open for someone else to host. Give your family a chance to step in and plan the next holiday so you can join in the celebration.
Protect Your Mental Health and Enjoy the Holiday Season Your Way
There’s no “right” way to do the holidays. If this year, you’d rather pass on the big family trek, it’s okay to stay home. What matters most is that you pay attention to how you feel and adjust accordingly. You deserve to enjoy the holidays and doing so starts with identifying and protecting your boundaries.
