The holidays can be a great time to reconnect with family and friends and to share the joys of the past year and hope for the coming one. It can also be incredibly stressful with seemingly endless social obligations, holiday traffic, gift-giving pressure, Aunt Carol’s gravy- and cheese-laden family feasts and the possibility of interacting with family who might not share our points of view on social issues. It’s important to try to remember to build in some time for yourself. Here are our tips for taking the stress out of the holidays.
Gifts are not a must
This is kind of a big one for a lot of people. It’s the season of giving, right? But that doesn’t mean you need to go out of your way or spend a ton of money. While gift giving can be as much of a joy for the giver as it is for the receiver, don’t feel obligated to get everyone (or anyone, for that matter) a gift, especially if you’re experiencing financial difficulty. There are also ways to give gifts that don’t break the bank or take a lot of time. You and those with whom you usually exchange gifts can probably come up with some creative ideas to replace gifts, like having a holiday potluck, making gifts from things you already have or even re-gifting things you’ve received in the past and no longer use. Giving your time is also a great way to show appreciation. Volunteer with coworkers or friends and loved ones to help nonprofits in your community and see how great it makes you feel.
Scale everything back
You don’t have to go all out on decorating or making food or attending parties or any of it. It is absolutely okay to set your boundaries and limits with coworkers (bosses included), friends and family about what you can and cannot commit to with the understanding that everyone need only do what they have the mental, physical, financial and emotional capacity to do.
Get some exercise
If you’re already someone who works out on a regular basis that’s great! The key is to keep it up during this busy season, at least to the best of your ability. If you don’t normally work out, maybe carve out a couple times a week that you can take a walk or do some yoga. The stress-busting benefits of even small amounts of exercise are amazing and can really help you get through this busy season. Exercise increases your endorphin levels, which some call the “feel good” chemicals.
Be mindful with meals (and snacks and booze…)
It’s all too easy to overdo it at the holidays with all the parties, most of which offer an array of tempting food and drink. And while indulging every once in a while is certainly fine, being mindful of not getting out of hand at each and every party or gathering will help you avoid things like indigestion, gas and bloating, constipation, nausea and the dreaded hangover. Stick to small bites if possible and drink a glass of water for every alcoholic drink you consume.
Get that “me” time
In all the hustle and bustle, it’s important to carve out some time for yourself. Make it intentional when you decide to turn down that invitation or turn off your phone for a few hours. Doing this throughout the season will allow you to check in with yourself and assess what you might be needing or neglecting in your self-care. Remember that you matter and taking care of yourself should be priority #1.
Reflect
Why are the holidays important to you? Maybe they’re not and that’s okay too. This is a good chance to think about how your values align with what’s going on this time of year. Don’t let the commercialization and endless parade of seemingly perfect life moments of your peers/acquaintances on social media color how you feel about your experiences. We all know none of that is 100% reality anyway. What values do you align yourself with most closely? Stick to those and stay true to yourself. That could come in the form of skipping the family get-together with the not-so-politically correct Uncle Jim in order to save your sanity or conquering that green-eyed monster while scrolling Facebook.
Reach out
If you experience feelings of depression or anxiety around the holidays, you are not alone. Talking to a therapist or your best friend or your grandma can help. There’s no shame in asking for help and there’s no time like the present (get it? ;) ).
Remember self-care is NOT a luxury. And it looks different for everyone. It’s not all yoga and manicures, but what you do to get yourself in the place you need to be to be the best you. Making time to read a book, take a walk or pet your cat may seem like little things but they can make all the difference when it comes to slowing down in this increasingly busy season.
About Revan Health
Revan Health provides welcoming, respectful family medicine for all from infants to geriatrics. We understand the pain and frustration that comes with not feeling heard by your family care provider. We believe access to respectful care is key to improving medicine adherence and overall life satisfaction for our patients. Like us on Facebook or visit us at revanhealth.com.