According to a 2014 report from the American Institute of Stress, work is the number one reason people feel stressed. Job pressure ranks before money and health stressors. And, more than 75% of people surveyed report that they regularly experience physical symptoms as a result of that stress. Research from the American Psychological Association found that women are more likely than men to report an increase in stress during the holidays.
With all this added stress, the holidays are a perfect time to reach out to your community with messages about self care. Here are some helpful holiday stress tips to help your community stay healthy during the holidays.
- Set reasonable expectations and don’t expect the holiday season to be perfect.
- Practice healthy drinking habits. Alcohol is a depressant and can exacerbate feelings of stress and sadness. Too much alcohol can also interfere with healthy sleep and interrupt natural sleep cycles.
- Keep up your exercise regimen as it will provide effective stress relief and productive alone time. A short daily walk can have a big impact.
- Set spending limits and stick to them. Over-spending during the holidays can lead to continued stress down the road.
- Treat your body well with balanced nutrition but don’t feel guilty when indulging during the holidays. Moderation is key and is a far healthier response to holiday treats than starvation.
- Create a space and time for yourself during family gatherings. Take a walk outside, find a quiet corner in the house, or make a quick trip to the store to gather your thoughts and relax.
- Plan any shopping and cooking in advance. Setting a schedule and making priorities will prevent too much from piling up at the last minute.
- Talk to someone. Seek support and affirmation of how your expectations for the season don’t always match with reality. A good listener and a little laugh can be great stress relievers.
Remind your community members that if they have anxiety, sadness, or a mood that interferes with sleeping, eating or other usual activities, they may want to seek professional treatment. Sometimes holiday blues are more than just passing emotions and can be something more serious like depression, anxiety, or a related disorder.
Your community can take the first step by taking a free and anonymous mental health self-assessment at HelpYourselfHelpOthers.org. Let them know that instead of putting off a screening until after the holidays, there’s information available to them now and perhaps they can schedule a consultation for the new year.