It’s not called ‘the silly season’ for nothing. While the holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy, for many – I would hazard a guess even most of us – surviving Christmas can bring stress and anxiety. This year in particular, when we have all just come out of our Covid ‘hibernation’, the sudden, frenzied socialising of Christmas might be a challenge.
Here are a few tips that might help you manage your anxiety and ensure you do have a joyous Christmas.
- Pace Yourself
Don’t let FOMO, or the expectations of others, lead you into accepting more invitations than you can cope with. You don’t need to go to everything you’re invited to. If you don’t think you will enjoy a particular event – maybe there will be people there you find difficult to deal with – or if you feel you’ve over-extended yourself already, it’s okay to politely decline.
- Manage Your Expectations
We all have a tendency to go into Christmas expecting it to be like one of those Hallmark Christmas movies, yet often it ends up looking more like a disaster movie. If you can go into the season, and the day, with low expectations you are less likely to be disappointed.
- Coping Mechanisms
If there are events you just can’t get out of, or feel you really do have to attend, think about some coping mechanisms you can use during the event. Whether it is a brief walk outside when you are feeling overwhelmed, or finding quiet corner where you can do a quick mindfulness or meditation exercise, have plans in place so when that one family member who always sets you off gets under your skin, you can escape quickly and de-escalate your feelings of stress or anxiety.
- Ask for Help
If you are the one putting on the party, or hosting on Christmas Day, don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s a lot of work, not to mention expectation, to put on a big spread, but most people are happy to contribute, whether it’s with a cheese platter, salad or dessert, which helps to take the pressure off. So don’t be afraid to ask.
- Christmas Cheer
It’s so easy to overindulge in alcohol at Christmas. But not only does too much alcohol sometimes cause you to say and do things you might regret afterwards, it is a depressant. One way to manage your intake is to alternate with a glass of water or other soft drink. There are also many great non-alcoholic adult drinks available on the market, so consider giving those a try.
- Stay Healthy
With all the eating and drinking we do over the Christmas period it is easy to lose sight of the importance of a little exercise, staying hydrated and getting enough sleep. In between all the celebrations, try to maintain a healthy-living approach. And there’s nothing wrong with the odd nana nap if you are burning the candle at both ends.
- Watch your Budget
For many of us, Christmas is a time when our spending can get away from us and this can cause stress, not just at Christmas but for many months afterwards. So think about a budget and stick to it. If you have a large family, consider talking to them about having a dollar value limit on presents, or instituting a Kris Kringle. You will probably find more than one of your family appreciate this idea.
- Learn from the Past
Think about your past experiences of Christmas. Which events or activities have brought you joy, and which have caused you stress. Use that knowledge to help plan a Christmas that you will enjoy. If anticipation of the big extended family gathering gives you nightmares, politely decline the invitation and do what works for you – even if that’s staying home and watching a Netflix marathon.
- Plan Ahead
Don’t leave buying gifts, stocking up on food and planning menus until the lasts minute. The more prepared you feel, the less stressful it will be. In addition to planning gifts and food, and probably more importantly, if you know you struggle at Christmas, make an appointment to see a counsellor in the lead up, and perhaps afterwards, to help keep you on an even keel.
- Being Alone
If you don’t have family around for whatever reason, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a great day. Ask a close friend if you can spend the day with them, volunteer with a community group, or spend the day doing your favourite activity. What you do on Christmas Day doesn’t matter as long as it brings you joy.
One final thing to remember is to be aware of social media comparisons. Posts made at holiday events are carefully ‘curated’ just like at any other time of the year. Catching a shot of smiling faces in a moment does not necessarily reflect the whole day.
If you are anxious about the upcoming Christmas period and would like some support in putting strategies to get through the holiday season in place, please give me a call on 0490 697 289, or contact me here.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year. Jenni
