Christmas Anxiety

10 Tips To Help You Cope

This is the most wonderful time of the year…… well, it is if Christmas anxiety dosn’t impact your health. Let’s be realistic here…for most of us, the Christmas season is not like the movies; well, maybe it’s closer to ‘Die Hard’ than it is to ‘The Holiday’.

Expectations can be high; the expense can be stressful, managing family dynamics can be anxiety-inducing, and missing loved ones can be upsetting and sad.

All around, the pressure can sometimes be too much. So how do we cope and keep our Christmas anxiety levels in check?

Don’t let Christmas become something you dread. Instead, take steps to prevent the Christmas anxiety build-up that we know can descend during the holidays. Learn to recognise your triggers, such as pressure on your personal time and finances, so you can overcome them before they lead to a high-stress, anxiety-filled meltdown.

1. Recognise your feelings.

It may be difficult to enjoy and celebrate the holidays, especially if you’ve lost someone close to you or the distance makes it challenging to spend time together. Remember, it’s normal to feel sadness and grief, and It’s OK to take time to express your feelings or cry. Foremost, be kind to yourself and sit with those sad moments when they arise, you can’t force yourself to be happy all the time and the holiday season is no exception.

Maybe taking some time to reflect on special memories of lost loved ones or consider doing something meaningful in their honour.

2. Lean In By Reaching Out.

If spending time with close friends and loved ones is difficult, try volunteering at a local organisation or other social events where your smiling face could change someone’s day.

Doing something to help others is a great way to lift your spirits and widen your friendships. Maybe consider dropping off a meal and dessert at a friend’s home.

If you’re feeling anxious during the holidays, it may also help to talk to a family member or friend about your concerns. Try reaching out with a video chat, text, or a call.

3. Be Pragmatic.

Christmas does not have to be perfect. As families grow and change, traditions often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, but be open to creating new ones. If your adult children or other relatives can’t come around to yours to celebrate, find new ways to connect. Maybe make Christmas Eve or Boxing Day special or meet virtually on a video call. Even though your Christmas plans may look different this year, you can still find ways to celebrate.

4. Set aside differences.

5. Budget

Before you do your gift and food shopping, create a budget and stick to it. Spend only what you can afford, and if you don’t have the ability to spend anything, get crafty and bake a treat, create a playlist, paint a picture or offer your time. Don’t try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts; the sentiment behind a gift is more important than the cost. Remember, no friend or family member would want a gift if they knew the extra spend caused you worry and anxiety.

You could try these alternatives:

Give homemade gifts.
Donate to a charity.
Start a family secret Santa tradition – so only one present needs to be purchased.
Set a per-present price limit.
Try gift exchanging rather than purchasing new.

6. Look ahead.

Set aside specific days for planning and preparation, baking, shopping, and socialising with friends. Consider shopping online for as many of your items as possible. If you’re hosting, create a menu and a shopping list, this way, nothing gets forgotten. Buy as much as possible ahead of time, be that presents or non-perishable foods and drinks. Leave the last-minute shopping to fresh food items only. When planning, think in terms of paychecks and start early to space out the expense across as many paychecks as possible. And always reduce your anxiety and workload by enlisting help for meal prep and cleanup.

7. Say no.

Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling anxious, resentful, and overwhelmed. Friends and family will understand if you can’t participate in every activity. With Christmas commitments, it’s OK to say no to a few or all of them. Especially if doing so relieves your anxiety. Try sharing your to-do list with other family members.

Only say “yes” to the events will bring you joy.

8. Enjoy the celebrations – but keep those healthy habits.

Christmas is notorious for derailing healthy habits. A short workout or walk each morning will help your decision-making throughout the day. In amongst the chocolates, nuts and drinks, keep up with your healthy snacks like fresh fruit or vegetables. Maybe try filling up on something healthy before a dinner party or celebration to reduce the volume of more indulgent foods. After all, overindulging can add to your anxiety and guilt.

Try these suggestions:

Have a healthy snack before meals.
Get plenty of sleep.
Include healthy meals as part of your celebrations
Add regular exercise to your daily routine.
Try mindfulness, meditation or yoga.
Avoid excessive alcohol and drug use.

Life is all about balance, so when you do indulge, make sure you enjoy it. Be kind and remove the guilt and anxiety if you do say yes to pudding.

9. Take a breather.

Don’t forget about your own needs. Take some time out as you need it, read a book, take a nap, or go for a short walk. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to deal with everything you need to do. Find something that reduces your anxiety by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm. Maybe, listening to music, lighting candles or opening the windows.

10. Make It Fun.

The Christmas period is meant to be fun, so fill it with activities, food and people that make it joyful, fun and inturn this will help to reduce that Christmas anxiety feeling.

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