As much as we love the festive season, they are undeniably a stressful time of year. Often, we find ourselves buying gifts for people we don’t know that well, traveling to see people we don’t like that much, and just generally doing things in a compressed manner—it feels like we need to pack in as much as we can. A bigger problem emerges when your expectations of this time of year don’t match reality. This can lead to feelings of depression or more anxiety, as you don’t “measure up” to your imagined ideal.
The festivities could also be difficult, especially for grievers and this time could be reminders of the loved ones they lost. It’s important to remind yourself that as circumstances change, traditions will change as well. Instead, acknowledge your feelings and find ways to ground yourself.
Here are some tips for managing festive anxiety:
1. Prioritize Your Health: This time of year, it’s easy to forget about your needs and let your health slide. But taking care of yourself reduces your anxiety and improves your overall well-being. Make sure you are eating healthy foods, staying physically active, and getting enough sleep. And think twice about overindulging in alcohol—it may actually worsen your anxiety symptoms.
2. Continuing the routine: It is easy to slip into the trap of cheat days though disrupting the routine completely can feel very disorienting, be it regarding eating habits or sleep patterns. Try to keep some of the routine activities like exercising, meditating, and having a good amount of sleep.
3. Make Time for You: Schedule time in your day to relax. Even 15 minutes alone can give you the energy you need to handle everything that comes your way. Relaxation exercises such as yoga or meditation are often a big help. Or you can find a quiet space to sip on some chamomile tea and burn a scented candle. You can even use your downtime to journal or read a book. It’s up to you, just choose something that relaxes your body and calms your mind.
4. Plan Ahead: Identify your anxiety triggers, and do what you can to plan ahead to avoid them. If you’re worried about spending too much money, put together a budget as soon as you can. Similarly, if holiday shopping stresses you out, try to get it over with as soon as possible. If social situations make you uncomfortable, see if any of your friends are attending the same event. The more time you have to prepare for upcoming events, the less overwhelmed and anxious you’ll be.
5: Just Say ‘No’: It’s okay to say “no” to things that aren’t your scene. The key is to be polite but firm. Maybe say “I appreciate the invite, but I can’t. How about we plan a one-on-one meet-up soon?”There are some events you’ve been invited to something that you absolutely have to attend. Stay long enough for people to remember you were there, and then leave. There’s no rule saying you have to stay all night. 6. Ask for Support: Remember that it’s okay to feel anxious and ask for help. If the holidays are hard for you, let your friends and family know that you might need some extra support. Practice a secret signal with someone close to you who can help you during gatherings if you become overwhelmed.
It is ok to learn that you don’t need to force yourself to be happy and that it’s good to acknowledge feelings that aren’t joyful. It may be difficult for people around to understand the low moods since festivals are known to be a joyous occasion for all and feeling differently can bring up self-doubt.