Christmas is often described as a season of joy and happiness. But for some people, this time of the year is more stressful. Christmas has even been linked to an increased risk of a heart attack possibly due to the yearly pressure and emotional distress
There are many reasons for Christmas to be stressful – including pressure to find the perfect gift for someone, pressure to have the perfect family gathering, and financial worries. The pandemic has only worsened the negative effect of the holidays on mental health.
But there are some remedial measures that people can take to help them deal with the stress of the holiday season.
- Leave the Word ‘Perfection’
Many people worry about the perfection of their Christmas. It is really a kind of trap that may turn your joyful days into days of darkness. Such a situation can lead not only to feelings of distress but also lower the life satisfaction for parents; it might even lead some people to avoid their favourite items of the holidays.
Living in the present is the best way to overcome such a situation. For example, think about the present moment instead of thinking about the things you have to do, or your future plans.
Christmas is really a story of the imperfect. It was the joy and humility of the King of Peace who was born in a manger in Bethlehem.
- Change your Mindset
Christmas is part of our life. Since we can’t keep away from it, we need to get into it and strive to do everything possible that might help us cope with the stress.
If we think of stress as something that will help us improve ourselves – instead of seeing it as something which will be hard on us – we may actually experience more positive emotions and be more flexible when we face challenges.
There are three simple steps you can follow to do this. The first step is acknowledging that Christmas is indeed stressful and that you may feel stressed out.
The second step is to pay attention to the reason why you might be feeling stressed. Perhaps it may be that you are going to miss your loved ones as you cannot travel to meet them on Christmas. Or because you’re worried about having a perfect day. Often, stress is caused by worrying about things that are important to us.
You might be feeling stressed because you want everything to be perfect for your children on Christmas day; due to that stress you may end up shouting at them.
- Practice Self-pity
Becoming stressed on the holidays, and having self-pity might help you feel less distressed at the moment. It may even improve your well-being and reduce the negative impact of stress.
Self-pity can heal you in a better way. It is a kind of reflex action towards yourself during moments of stress. For example, meditation – specifically the type known as loving-kindness meditation – may help us feel happier and more attached to others.
The idea with this type of meditation is that it will reduce our feelings of stress by taking our attention away from our self and our stress and redirecting it towards others we love.
If meditation doesn’t help you, nature can help reduce stress and improve your mood. Go to a suitable place where feel good. Cutting down your time on your phone may also help you feel less stressed and happier.
While the pandemic may make you feel even more stressed during Christmas, it’s important to recall the reasons why we’re in a celebration mood. This may help you feel less stressed about getting things right, and enjoy whatever time you can spend with family and friends.