According to the American Psychological Association, nearly 70% of adults experience significant stress during the holiday season.

As this supposed joyous season approaches, the pressure of trying to make it merry for your family and loved ones can lead to a pessimistic holiday outlook or worse, burnout. The added pressure and expectations of gift-giving, family gatherings, and the desire to create perfect holiday memories can lead to significant stress. This is often compounded by the disruption of daily routines, financial pressures, and the emotional strain of ensuring everyone else's holiday joy. Too often vocabulary like overwhelm, exhaustion, over-it, not enough hours become commonplace. Something to think about…If someone asked you to describe your perfect holiday season, would you use these words to describe it?

It is time to embrace a different mindset so you can prevent this bah humbug attitude this year.
It will be busy; it will be a hustle on many days. Instead of trying so hard to make it perfect, try to adopt the mindset that you are doing what you can while keeping your mental and physical health in check.

Think of it as the Healthy Holiday Hustle:

• Accept that things will be hectic and that not everything will go perfectly. This is all about mindset. Pursuing a perfect holiday can lead to disappointment. Don’t be victim to the picture-perfect scenarios social media too often portrays. Be realistic and scale back on the decorating, opt for a more straightforward holiday meal, and buy fewer gifts. It's important to remember that the holidays are a family affair, and tasks can be shared. Delegate and share responsibilities.
• Self-care is a necessity not a luxury. During the holiday hustle, you must remember that self-care is vital for maintaining a healthy relationship with yourself. It will also lead to positive outcomes such as better managing stress, anxiety, and depression. Here are some key self-care strategies that will help you keep up the holiday hustle in a healthy way:
  • Commit to 20 minutes of activity every day. It is a small goal that is simple to stick to. Make it a priority no matter how busy your days get. This simple act of taking a small amount of time for just YOU will help you to keep your health and the meaningful aspects of the season in check.
  • Sleep. Don’t shirk on sleep to get more done. This will only create greater challenges for managing the added stress. Stick to your normal sleep routine and schedule as closely as possible.
  • Eat in moderation. Enjoy and indulge within reason. Overindulging will do nothing to enhance your joy or your energy.
• Limit your social media interaction. This alone can lead to perfectionism thinking during the holidays. Taking a break from social media can prevent the stress of comparison and allow you to focus on what makes your family's holiday special.
• Focus on selective holiday activities and traditions. Not all holiday traditions are worth holding on to. Reflect on those that bring you and your family the most joy and focus on those. Let go of those you have done in the past that leave you feeling frazzled or more stressed than happy.

The holiday season brings happiness and fun, but it can also bring stress, sadness, and chaos at times. When your peace feels distant, take slow deep breaths, slow down your pace, and reflect on these tips we’ve shared with you. Take a moment to think of all the things you are grateful for and the time for a mental reset. Stay grounded in what the holidays really mean to you and your family so you can truly enjoy time spent with family and friends. Our team wishes you a healthy and happy December and New Year ahead!