The holiday season is upon us, and what should be a festive time that brings loved ones closer together is, instead, a major stressor for a lot of people. Two-thirds (64%) of Americans say their stress increases around this time of year. Weight gain, finances, and travel all play a part in these elevated cortisol levels. So, too, does family.
According to our recent Holiday Stress Outlook, 18% of Americans attribute increased stress levels to navigating difficult family dynamics. We’ve put together a list of simple tips and self-care strategies to help you keep your cool during holiday family gatherings.
1) Don’t Go It Alone
Of the millions of Americans who experience heightened stress over the holidays, only 8% seek mental health care as a part of their coping strategy. Minding your mental health can reduce your stress, protect you against illness, and boost your energy levels. While there are many ways to practice self-care over the holidays, consider seeking additional support from a licensed mental health care professional. With a plethora of low-cost online therapy options available, it’s easier than ever to talk to someone qualified to offer help without adding another big commitment to your holiday schedule.
If you’re looking for a place to start, Sesame offers convenient online online mental health visit with top-rated professionals. You can use these private visits to voice your worries and triggers and discuss potential coping mechanisms with a trained mental health care provider.
2) Make A Plan
Downtime during get-togethers may lead to idle conversations about sensitive topics that can provoke family drama. To avoid these situations, suggest spending time doing an activity or going somewhere together.
For instance, you can bring board games or a jigsaw puzzle to family events to give yourselves something to do (instead of sitting around jabbing at each other). You could make a new holiday tradition by ice skating or going out to eat. A change of pace or scenery may help you avoid tricky family relationships or toxic conversations that spring up from doing the same thing every year.
