The holidays are full of family, food, Mariah Carey, and plenty of love. Unfortunately for many of us, that’s not the case. The Holidays can bring about a lot of stress, anxiety, and even depression.
The holidays can be full of expectations, be present, buy presents, be with family, decorate, attend holiday parties, and many other things. Sometimes we cannot meet these holiday expectations, which can cause us to be anxious and stressed.
We have three stress management tips to help relieve holiday anxiety.
Strategy # 1: Problem-Focused Coping:
Problem-focused coping is a strategy that focuses on the problem that is causing stress and anxiety. Problem-focused coping strategies can be used to solve everyday problems.
Preparing for the holidays can be very stressful. Likewise, regular life outside of the holidays can be stressful. It is okay to feel a bit uneasy and stressed. Often, we may have some subconscious guilt for being stressed and anxious.
Recognize how you are feeling in the moment, tell yourself it’s going to be okay, ask yourself the questions listed below.
Problem-focused coping would include asking yourself:
- What is the problem? (What is giving me anxiety?)
- What are some possible solutions for the problem/anxiety?
- What are the pros and cons of the solution?
- Too many cons? Look for an alternative solution.
In short, a problem-focused coping method is actively trying to do things to tackle the problem, which in this case is anxiety and stress.
What does problem Focused coping look like in real life?
Scenario 1:
Let’s say that you are preparing a holiday dinner for some extended family.
You are stressed because you have to cook the ham, the sides, and the desert. This has been stressing you out all week because you know you will need enough for everyone, and your mother-in-law is a special kind of picky.
A solution for the above problem would be eliminating some of the dishes you wanted to make. For example, instead of a Ham with five sides, you could choose three solid sides that you know all or most of your guests would like.
This would decrease your workload and streamline your preparation.
Scenario 2:
Another example can include excluding everyone who is not in your immediate family from your holiday shopping list this year. You can also set a limit for how much you want to spend on gifts this year.
It is important to remember that you can’t do everything, and you shouldn’t! Unfortunately, that’s a one-way ticket to the overwhelmed station! We all know how easy it is to get overwhelmed with so many moving pieces during the holidays.
Problem-focused coping can help you minimize your holiday stress and anxiety through action-focused solutions.
Something to Note:
It is important to note that one of these strategies (Emotion-focused coping & problem-focused coping) is not better than the other. Instead, think of them as tools for specific situations. One tool might better fit a situation than the other.
Strategy # 2: Emotion-focused Coping
Emotion-focused coping is changing your emotional reaction to the problem rather than addressing the issue.
Unlike problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping helps you deal with situations you can’t control. This is an excellent tool for extended family members who may need to go on the naughty list!
What does Emotion-Focused coping look like in real life?
Before you do anything, recognize how you are feeling in the moment, tell yourself it’s going to be okay.
Journaling is a great way to relieve anxiety. Journaling allows you to get all those jumbled thoughts out of your head. For example, if you feel negative emotions towards a family member or situation, you can write these emotions out. There are great journal prompts online to help you do this.
You can also do an activity to help regulate your emotions.
- Acknowledge how you feel
- Meditate
- Journal
- Take a walk with a trusted friend or family member.
- Take a walk alone.
- Look for the positive in the situation.
Strategy # 3: Start a Hobby
Hobbies have been shown to improve your health and even help you live longer. Hobbies can also help relieve stress and anxiety. So, it is good to have something you like to do that’s just for you!
How to find a hobby
A great way to find a hobby is to think about what you liked to do as a child. Those are often some of our true passions! For example, if you wanted to draw as a kid, you can find a community art club. You could also look for art classes.
What are your current interests?
Interest is a desire to learn something. These are things that arise your natural curiosity. What makes you curious? Your interests can range from ideologies to health topics.
Don’t Rule out things you do Every day.
Everyday activities can be hobbies! Here are some examples:
- Cooking
- Cleaning
- Yardwork
- Interior decoration
- Reading
Need Help Coping?
Here at Community Health Network (CHN), we understand that anxiety and stress don’t only affect us during the holidays. These are things that many of us deal with year-round.
Community Health Network offers many flexible and accessible behavioral health services.
We now offer telehealth services as well. We have 11 locations in the Houston area! Visit our website to schedule an appointment today.
Bottom Line:
Anxiety and stress are common, but they don’t have to last forever. We must continue to stress to acknowledge how you feel. If you feel stressed and anxious, recognize that, and choose a coping strategy to help you feel better.
