5 Tips for Managing Holiday-Related Anxiety

Although this time of year is often advertised as the “happiest season of all,” you may actually feel emotionally burdened by everything the holidays bring. 

For most people, the holiday season brings a jam-packed schedule full of events, a never-ending list of things to do, tight finances, and emotionally charged social situations with difficult family members or coworkers. 

If all of these factors bring about strong feelings of dread and gut-wrenching anxiety, you’re certainly not alone. 

In fact, almost 90% of adults in the United States say that they feel very overwhelmed during the holidays, and almost half of them reported that it impacted their ability to enjoy this time of year.

At RapidRecovery TMS in Wilmington, North Carolina, our team understands that completely avoiding anxiety this time of year isn’t all that realistic, but we do want you to know that there are effective ways to manage it. 

So, in this month’s blog, we provide five practical tools for managing holiday-related anxiety to help you stay present for yourself and those around you.

1. Set realistic expectations

Before the holiday celebrations, decide what you want out of the season. Try not to focus on what other people expect or want you to do. 

Instead, make a list of things that are important to you, whether they’re special traditions or exciting events, and put them at the top of your list. Then, prioritize everything from there.

Eliminate things from your list that you can either delegate to others or not do at all. For example, ask your spouse to do the gift shopping this year, or politely decline to attend your work’s holiday party. 

Giving yourself space to recognize what’s important this season helps you stay present for the things that truly matter.

2. Make a plan

After you’ve taken the time to prioritize what this season looks like for you, it’s helpful to make plans that help you stick to those priorities. Some helpful things to plan for include a holiday shopping budget, menu preparation, and how to deal with difficult people at social events.

Knowing what’s coming and having a plan in place can help things seem more manageable. Scheduling days to prepare and cook holiday food or sitting down to chart your finances ahead of time can give you some peace of mind in the midst of holiday chaos. 

3. Take care of yourself

In the midst of the hustle and bustle, doing anything for yourself often goes to the bottom of the list. However, not prioritizing your mental or physical health can be a disaster waiting to happen. 

By making healthy eating choices, getting enough high-quality sleep, connecting with trusted loved ones, going outside, and exercising, you’re giving your body exactly what it needs to keep on going exactly when you need it to. 

The to-do list can wait. Your wellness is worth investing in.

4. Put boundaries in place

Setting healthy emotional boundaries can often feel uncomfortable. However, it’s so important to protect yourself and others. When you understand and advocate for your own wants, needs, and limits, you’re able to better show up for yourself and others.

5. Schedule some therapy appointments

Part of optimal mental health is talking with a mental health professional, like our RapidRecovery TMS team. We can help talk through your particular stressors, identify negative thought patterns, and implement some helpful management strategies. 

If your stress and anxiety linger after the conclusion of the holiday season, you may benefit from more long-term anxiety management options, including medication or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy. 

To schedule an appointment with our mental health team, simply call our office or use our online booking feature today.