The Holiday Blues: 10 Holiday Stress Management Tips

The holiday season is filled with festivities, celebration, and loads of delicious treats. It's a time to gather with loved ones, feel thankful for what you have, and reflect on the year that's passed. 

For many, the holiday season comes with a sense of dread. There are a ton of factors that can make the holidays feel stressful. Hosting, financial strain, and loneliness all make it tempting to skip it altogether and try again next year. 

The holiday blues are very real. However, they shouldn't get in the way of you enjoying the holiday season. Keep reading to learn more about the holiday blues and how you can manage your stress these next few weeks. 

What are the Holiday Blues? 

The holiday blues are defined as temporary feelings of anxiety, depression, sadness, loneliness, and other negative emotions during the winter holiday season. They usually start to creep in toward the end of October when we enter the season and persist through the end of December. 

The holiday blues can affect anyone. If you have struggled with your mental health, experienced loss, or are prone to stress, you might be affected more than the average person. 

Why Do I Have Anxiety During the Holidays? 

There are a number of factors that can contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety during the holiday season. 

Some of the possible reasons you feel anxious during the holidays could be: 

• Setting expectations too high. There's a certain pressure that comes with this time of year to make everything perfect. Whether you're hosting, cooking a dish, or starting new traditions, there are a lot of expectations you likely set for yourself that might be unattainable. 
• Getting gifts. Gift-giving is meant to be a nice thing you do for loved ones. It can be easy to get caught up in getting the "perfect" gifts for the important people in your life. 
• Financial strain. There are a number of reasons to spend money during the holidays. From decorations and food, to meaningful gifts, this time of year usually comes with increased spending. 
• Family tension. The holidays usually mean getting together with extended family to celebrate the season. Not everyone has good relationships with their family. A lot of families fight and argue which can lead to a lot of unwelcome tension. 
• Physical exhaustion. There are a lot of errands and activities that you might not be used to during this time of year. This can lead to feelings of exhaustion when you aren't used to being that social or active. 
• Loss and loneliness. The holidays usually bring up feelings of loss and loneliness. Not everyone is able to spend time with their loved ones during this time of year. The season tends to make us feel more sentimental towards the people in our lives that have passed.
• Travel stress. If you don't live near the people you're planning to spend the holidays with, the added stress of travel comes into play. Flights can be expensive and driving long distances can be draining. 
• Straying from normal routines. Deviating from your regular routine is enough to leave you feeling off-balance. Messing with your sleep schedule, altering your diet, and losing some structure are all contributing factors to the blues. 

There are a ton of other reasons that you might be feeling more stressed or anxious around the holidays. Try to be kind to yourself—you're only human and having the holiday blues are a part of life. In fact, a lot of your friends and family are probably experiencing the blues as well. 

There are things you can do to help manage these feelings and still find joy in the holiday season. 

Ten Tips to Get Rid of the Holiday Blues 

You don't have to completely dread this time of year. There are still ways to uncover the magic of the season and find happiness this holiday season. 

Here are ten tips we recommend for getting rid of the holiday blues:

1. Recognize that the blues are temporary. They're called the holiday blues for a reason. These feelings won't last forever and certainly have no control over you. Don't let the blues stop you from enjoying the holidays. 
2. Set aside time to recharge. This is especially important if you're someone who is easily drained by social interactions and being around a lot of people. Find time where you can be alone and recharge your social battery. 
3. Set realistic expectations. Remember that you're just one person. Be honest with your budgets and recognize that there's no such thing as perfection. Let go of the need to get the "perfect" gifts or make the "perfect" dishes. 
4. Face your blues head on. Don't try to ignore or tamper these feelings. Acknowledge when you're feeling the blues and talk about them with people you trust. As we said earlier, there are likely other people in your life that are feeling the same way. It can be really therapeutic to talk through these feelings and uncover why you're feeling them. 
5. Stick to normal routines as much as you can. Try to maintain some sense of normalcy where you can. Keep your normal sleep schedule, stay consistent with your diet where you can, and stick with your regular exercise routines. 
6. Don't be afraid to say no. Overcommitting is one of the things that can make you feel very overwhelmed. Prioritize spending time with the people you love and don't be afraid to say no to engagements. 
7. Get outside. Depending on where you live, this time of year also comes with coldness and darkness. It can be tempting to stay holed up inside and not see the light of day. Push yourself to go on quick walks outside and breathe in fresh air. 
8. Create new traditions. Old traditions carry baggage with them—the person who created them might no longer be with us or they hold negative feelings. You can create new traditions with people who love and support you so you have something to look forward to and celebrate moving forward. 
9. Get organized. Don't discount the power of structure. Make to-do lists, create budgets, and fill out your calendar so everything you need to do is out of your head and exists in the physical realm. 
10. Remember what the holidays are all about. Don't lose sight of what the holidays are really about. They're about spending time with loved ones, expressing gratitude, and giving back. Prioritize this over stresses and anxieties. 

There are many other tips you can try to ease the holiday blues. Be extra kind to yourself and others during this time of year—you'd be amazed at what a small act of kindness can do. 

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday 

Now all that's left is to have a safe and happy holiday. We are inspired by the strength and resilience we see from our customers each and everyday. Anyone who is reading this post is worthy of having a great holiday. 

Use this post as your sign to check in with yourself and others as we enter the end of the year. You are loved. You are important. You are amazing.