The holidays are supposed to be an exciting time of the year. For most, it’s a time of celebration, reunions with family and friends, and making memories. However, for some, it’s a season of heightened anxiety and depression. This time of year can come with an array of demands, including unrealistic expectations, financial stress, and high amounts of socialization. Although many find the holidays overwhelming and stressful, those with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and social anxiety disorder may find this time of year triggering.
Understanding your worries can help you prepare and cope with the season. Here are a few tips to help you manage your anxiety during the holidays:
Don’t Abandon Healthy Habits
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- Don’t forget to be kind to yourself during the holiday season. This time of year, it can be easy to forget about your self-care needs. Taking care of yourself by being physically active, eating properly, and sleeping well can improve your overall well-being.
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- Schedule a time during the day to unwind. While you may feel like you must be on the go constantly to be productive, allowing yourself to relax can help you calm down and accomplish more throughout the day.
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- Find time to do things you enjoy such as take a walk, read a book, or practice yoga.
Organize Your Finances
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- Gift-giving can take up a lot of time, money, and energy. Creating a budget can help minimize stress by reducing surprise spending. Try making homemade gifts or suggest a gift exchange to help lower expenses.
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- Utilizing credit card reward points during the holidays is an easy way to get cashback on your purchases or travel expenses. The best credit cards can earn you up to 2X rewards on your holiday shopping.
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- With the holidays requiring a lot of spending, looking into the cost to refinance your home can be an option to reduce your monthly spending. Taking advantage of the record low mortgage rates can help you ease your financial stress by having more money to put towards high-interest credit card bills or save up for home improvements you’ve been hoping to accomplish.
Use Your Support System
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- Between shopping and many social gatherings, remember it’s okay to ask for help. Saying no in situations where you may feel overbooked is okay. Friends and colleagues will understand if you’re unable to attend every event.
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- Understanding your stressors and talking through them with a loved one can help you sort through your thoughts. Writing your feelings down in a journal may help you prioritize your problems and concerns.
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- If you’re feeling lonely or stressed, try reaching out to friends, family, or professional help. There are many support groups you can reach out to that can help you get through difficult times.
Have an Anxiety Plan of Action
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- You want to hope for the best, but also plan for the worst. Having a plan of action when your anxiety does arise can help calm your “what-if” worries.
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- Determine how you will respond to your growing anxiety.
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- Practice deep breathing, remove yourself from busy gatherings, or have a signal to give a loved one to notify them of your heightened anxiety.
Many feel stressed over the holidays. If your anxiety starts to take a toll on your overall well-being, it might be worthwhile to reach out for support. Remember to not overdo yourself and be realistic with your expectations. When battling anxiety, make sure to set aside plenty of time to focus on yourself too, during and after, the busy holidays.
