{"id":86834,"date":"2021-01-05T09:56:52","date_gmt":"2021-01-05T17:56:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/?p=86834"},"modified":"2021-01-08T09:48:03","modified_gmt":"2021-01-08T17:48:03","slug":"how-to-deal-with-holiday-anxiety-and-stress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/how-to-deal-with-holiday-anxiety-and-stress\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Deal with Post-Holiday Anxiety and Stress"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Most people view holidays as happy, positive, and filled with warmth. But for others, it\u2019s quite the opposite. It\u2019s true that holidays bring a sense of togetherness, but it also brings in a heap of expectations and commitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buying gifts or traveling to meet your family when you\u2019re struggling to pay your bills brings a lot of pressure. Others may feel obligatory to answer questions they\u2019ve meant to avoid for a while. It\u2019s things like these that build up and turn into holiday anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one deserves to be unhappy during the holidays. It\u2019s supposed to bring you everything but anxiety and a feeling of stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s see how you can deal with this holiday anxiety in six ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Acknowledge your feelings<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Holidays call for unwanted happiness sometimes. You may be grieving someone\u2019s loss or going through other issues when holidays force you to put on a happy face. It\u2019s important to remember that it\u2019s not necessary to be happy all the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cry, talk to people, and express your grief the best way you can. Hiding these feelings and suppressing them will do no good. They\u2019ll create a toxic environment for you, making everything difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Writing your thoughts in a journal or a blog<\/a> can help relieve some stress you\u2019re facing. Doing a rant with your best friend or crying can also be a way of acknowledging what\u2019s in there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You don\u2019t have to be happy just because it\u2019s the holiday season. Take your time and acknowledge what you feel because it matters. Doing so will help you reflect on your thoughts and what\u2019s disturbing you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    After this, you may even find the strength to look for a solution and do away with what\u2019s holding you back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Clear unrealistic expectations<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Addressing your issues and talking about them is the only way out of this loop. Try to clear unrealistic expectations with people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Rather than spending your money on traveling when you\u2019re short on budget, ask your family to have a virtual celebration on a video call. If you can\u2019t buy gifts, write personalized letters. And if you don\u2019t want to celebrate the season at all, tell your family you need some space and time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      They\u2019re family, and they will always want what\u2019s best for you. So, clear out expectations that are burdening you. Just because it\u2019s the holidays, don\u2019t force yourself to be cheerfully adhering to everyone\u2019s expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The holidays should bring you joy, doing things you want to do. So, stop giving in to other\u2019s expectations and clear the air. They will appreciate your honesty, giving you the time you need to heal your wounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Get comfortable saying \u2018no\u2019<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Saying \u2018yes\u2019 when you don\u2019t want to do something puts extra pressure on your shoulders. It builds up to overwhelming feelings that are hard to pass by. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Start getting comfortable saying \u2018no,\u2019 If you can\u2019t make it to a friend\u2019s party because of other commitments, say \u2018no\u2019 rather than adjusting your schedule and exhausting yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If you can\u2019t accommodate extra hours on a project, tell your manager it\u2019s not possible. If you can\u2019t work on the weekends and it\u2019s become a ritual, tell your boss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        You cannot meet your friends and family for the holidays because of other reasons, tell them \u2018no.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Saying \u2018yes\u2019 to these things will turn otherwise joyous events into resentful ones. There\u2019s no point in doing something against your will, so spare yourself the trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Say \u2018no\u2019 because you don\u2019t want to do it, not because of any other reason. They will appreciate the transparency, and you\u2019ll get peace of mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1. Plan for the holidays<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Another way to deal with the holiday anxiety is to plan for it to not pile up at the end moment. You know when the holidays are coming and the involvement it requires. So plan for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n