10 Non-Cliché Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress

In this article, we offer numerous practical and non-cliched tips that can help you manage your stress levels. While you may not enjoy every moment (and that’s ok!), you can learn to stay more regulated and mindful this time of year. 

1. Focus on Setting Realistic Expectations

During the holidays, amid the pressure to buy gifts or throw lavish parties, you may lose sight of what matters. In addition, the media bombards all of us with unrealistic expectations depicting perfect families and gorgeous aesthetics. 

Here are some different ways to ground yourself:

Focus on the big picture: Remember what truly matters to you during this time of year. Some of the details may not be perfect, and some plans may go awry, but practicing flexibility can be an important gift to offer yourself.

Accept what you can’t control: Maybe you aren’t all close with your family, so family gatherings aren’t as joyful as you’d like them to be. Or you don’t have the wherewithal to take as much time off from work as you hope. While you may not like all your current circumstances, acceptance allows you to embrace what is- rather than obsessing over what may not be able to be fixed. 

Limit social media use: Social media can heighten FOMO, as many people showcase their ‘perfect families’ or ‘perfect holiday parties’ online. Even if you know these are just the highlights, scrolling may still magnify feelings of stress, inadequacy, insecurity, and loneliness. 

2. Keep Yourself Organized

Sometimes holiday stress is a product of feeling overwhelmed by all the tasks sitting on your to-do list. If that’s the case, prioritize keeping a system and planning ahead. 

If possible, start shopping and making travel accommodations early. Break down specific tasks for each week and day in the moments leading up to the major holidays. If you know that planning certain events makes you anxious, give yourself extra time to prepare for them.

3. Delegate Responsibilities As Needed

Although it may feel tempting to manage everything on your own, this often perpetuates stress and anxiety. Nobody should have to manage every part of the season by themselves.

Better yet, most people want to help and enjoy contributing in the ways they can. Assign various duties to different people. If a certain tradition just feels too overwhelming right now, consider if someone else can take over or if you can make alternative arrangements. 

4. Make a Budget 

Financial concerns are the top anxiety-provoking concern during the holidays.⁽²⁾ Before you start planning parties or buying gifts, take some time to draft out a realistic budget. This can genuinely be the best thing if you struggle with overspending. 

If money is particularly tight (as it is for many people), the platitude that it’s the thought that counts really does make a difference during the holidays. Homemade gifts or special experiences may be more significant than buying expensive presents. 

5. Avoid Overextending Yourself Socially 

Everyone has a different social threshold, but maintaining boundaries is important when navigating various holiday activities. For many people, excessive social obligations can become draining and may lead to fatigue and resentment. 

Remember that it’s okay to have limits and say no to events that don’t add significant value to your well-being. If you’re selective with your social commitments, you’re more likely to be engaged and present at the events you attend. 

6. Designate an Accountability Friend 

Some holiday stressors are inevitable. With that, it can be helpful to have a friend who’s willing to check in on you regularly during this season. An excellent accountability friend can:

• offer you words of encouragement if you’re dealing with difficult family members
• act as a reasonable soundboard as you’re navigating various events
• hold your emotions and offer support without just jumping to solutions

If you don’t have this person, consider enlisting a partner or coworker that you trust. A therapist can also offer you this kind of support if you need compassion and guidance.

7. Give a Gift to Yourself

Amid the holiday spirit, people often focus so much on others that they neglect their own needs and values. However, you can also extend the virtues of gift-giving to yourself via more self-care. Some options to consider include: 

• investing in a personal passion or hobby
• curating a special self-care kit of relaxing items to use throughout the year
• scheduling a day or half-day dedicated to spending time with yourself
• investing in a course or book that honors your professional growth
• writing a letter to yourself to read this time next year 

8. Look After Your Physical Health

The holiday season often coincides with themes of ‘excess.’ People around you may be overspending, overeating, and drinking heavily. You might feel tempted to join in, especially if this is how you ordinarily celebrate holidays.

While there’s nothing wrong with occasional indulgence, overdoing it may cause you to feel worse about yourself, and it may magnify stress. Instead, try to focus on instilling small, healthy habits that feel reasonable and realistic. If you can prioritize nutrition, physical movement, and consistent sleep during the holidays, you will likely feel more grounded and regulated. 

9. Practice Self-Compassion 

Self-compassion refers to offering yourself grace and self-kindness. During stressful times, it can be hard to practice this skill, as you may be more apt to criticize yourself when things go wrong.

Self-compassion is gentle. When you practice self-compassion, you aim to treat yourself as you would treat a friend that you love. In turn, this reduces internal judgment and promotes increased feelings of mindfulness and self-kindness⁽³⁾. 

For example, let’s say the holidays always seem to coincide with some family conflict, causing you to feel anxious during social gatherings. If you engage in self-compassion, you might tell yourself, “Some family relationships are really difficult for me. This doesn’t make me a bad person. I will be gentle to myself and get through this time as best I can.”

10. Seek Professional Support

While most people experience some stress during the holidays, mental illness can exacerbate your struggles. Furthermore, if you experience depression, social anxiety, PTSD, or other mental health concerns, you may find it harder to implement some of these self-care practices during this time.

A therapist can act as a valuable anchor for processing negative emotions, navigating family tension, and reconciling difficulties that come with the holidays. You are not alone, and having the right support can make all the difference in how you feel.

References

1. American Psychological Association (2023, November 20). Even a joyous holiday season can cause stress for most Americans. Retrieved from: https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/11/holiday-season-stress. 
2. AP News (2023, December 21). Here are some ways you can reduce financial stress during the holidays. Retrieved from: https://apnews.com/article/holidays-gifts-budgeting-stress-finances-3bca475cc118d2441c663dfb95b8d23c. 
3. Bluth, K & Neff, K. D. (2018, August 15). New frontiers in understanding the benefits of self-compassion. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Karen-Bluth/publication/327055748_New_frontiers_in_understanding_the_benefits_of_self-compassion/links/5b85fd4fa6fdcc5f8b6e91de/New-frontiers-in-understanding-the-benefits-of-self-compassion.pdf.