Gobble gobble! The Halloween candy bowl isn’t even empty yet, but Thanksgiving is already here—and look over your shoulder, because here come Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the New Year. Maybe you are making your guest list or accepting invitations, deciding what dish to bring to your cousin’s house (she’s a professional chef!), making travel plans, cleaning the house and hoping the curtains arrive in time, figuring out whether there is enough money for presents and charitable donations—and trying to decide what to buy for whom.
Then there’s your job. Are you calculating fourth quarter sales? Maybe you have to complete performance reviews, write end-of-year reports, coordinate the big office move right after the first of the year, or justify to yourself or your boss why you didn’t accomplish more this past year.
What could be more predictable? Sure, this happens every year. But all of us agonize about the holidays as if it is the first time they are happening. What?? You mean Christmas is coming? Wow! When is that?
According to a 2024 poll by the American Psychiatric Association, having enough money for gifts and food are high on the list of concerns for all of us. The American Psychological Association reports that missing loved ones and anticipating family conflict are also major sources of stress. Along with the excitement and promise of the winter holidays, many of us also experience feelings of sadness and loss, thinking of those who are not at our holiday table this year. Plus, political disagreements can disrupt the happiest of family get-togethers!
We can’t eliminate the real and imagined stressors and competing priorities the holidays bring, but we can slow down and think about how to minimize the strain and avoid being pulled in multiple directions. Here are a few tips for easing the stress and some different ways to think about the holidays this year:
- Plan as far ahead as you can. Make travel reservations as early as possible and pack way in advance. Don’t leave everything for the night before!
- Decide how much you want to spend on presents and stick to it. Spending more doesn’t mean the present is enjoyed and valued more. (Bonus tip: Instead of every family member buying presents for everyone else, some families organize a Secret Santa and draw names from a hat. So each person buys one present, not a dozen or more. It’s fun and also cuts down on multiple, exhausting, and expensive shopping trips.)
- If you have a lot of children on your shopping list, be thoughtful and intentional. You can get fun and creative gifts without spending a fortune on the latest and most expensive electronic gadgets. Go low tech. Or even better, think of experiences—like museum memberships, zoo passes, or local theater tickets—rather than material goods.
- Be cautious about overindulging, especially in alcohol and rich foods. Of course, it’s fun to celebrate and treat yourself, but know your limits. And never, ever drive under the influence. If you are out and about, having a responsible, designated driver is a good idea, or take a cab or public transportation.
- Give the gift of time. Do you have a relative, friend, or neighbor who is alone or lonely? Spend some time with them! Play cards, bake your favorite desserts, or watch a movie together with a big bowl of popcorn. Or, you can volunteer at your local senior center, shelter, or children’s hospital. Make someone else happy while warming your soul.
- If something goes wrong, like if you burn the apple pie or someone spills cranberry sauce all over the lace tablecloth, don’t panic. Laugh about it. Holiday fiascos often make excellent and entertaining stories in the future!
- If you tend to get overwhelmed by social engagements, remember you don’t have to accept every invitation. Maybe cookie exchange parties aren’t your thing, or you don’t care about making it to midnight on New Year’s Eve. Choose a few celebrations that really appeal to you and politely decline the rest. And even during a celebration, it’s okay to step away for a few minutes to recharge, especially in those moments when it feels like you can’t. That’s usually when you need it most!
The holidays will always bring their share of chaos—burnt pies, delayed flights, budget anxieties, and of course, that one relative who insists on bringing up politics. But after all the planning and shopping and coordinating, you'll eventually sit down with people you care about. When you do, don’t forget to look around your holiday table and enjoy everyone who is with you. Raise your glass to them, and to the ones you're missing. Then dig in and enjoy the meal.
The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and should not be attributed to Counslr, Inc., its partners, its employees, or any other mental health professionals Counslr employs. You should review this information and any questions regarding your specific circumstances with a medical professional. The content provided here is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as counseling, therapy, or professional medical advice.
Gobble gobble! The Halloween candy bowl isn’t even empty yet, but Thanksgiving is already here—and look over your shoulder, because here come Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the New Year. Maybe you are making your guest list or accepting invitations, deciding what dish to bring to your cousin’s house (she’s a professional chef!), making travel plans, cleaning the house and hoping the curtains arrive in time, figuring out whether there is enough money for presents and charitable donations—and trying to decide what to buy for whom.
Then there’s your job. Are you calculating fourth quarter sales? Maybe you have to complete performance reviews, write end-of-year reports, coordinate the big office move right after the first of the year, or justify to yourself or your boss why you didn’t accomplish more this past year.
What could be more predictable? Sure, this happens every year. But all of us agonize about the holidays as if it is the first time they are happening. What?? You mean Christmas is coming? Wow! When is that?
According to a 2024 poll by the American Psychiatric Association, having enough money for gifts and food are high on the list of concerns for all of us. The American Psychological Association reports that missing loved ones and anticipating family conflict are also major sources of stress. Along with the excitement and promise of the winter holidays, many of us also experience feelings of sadness and loss, thinking of those who are not at our holiday table this year. Plus, political disagreements can disrupt the happiest of family get-togethers!
We can’t eliminate the real and imagined stressors and competing priorities the holidays bring, but we can slow down and think about how to minimize the strain and avoid being pulled in multiple directions. Here are a few tips for easing the stress and some different ways to think about the holidays this year:
- Plan as far ahead as you can. Make travel reservations as early as possible and pack way in advance. Don’t leave everything for the night before!
- Decide how much you want to spend on presents and stick to it. Spending more doesn’t mean the present is enjoyed and valued more. (Bonus tip: Instead of every family member buying presents for everyone else, some families organize a Secret Santa and draw names from a hat. So each person buys one present, not a dozen or more. It’s fun and also cuts down on multiple, exhausting, and expensive shopping trips.)
- If you have a lot of children on your shopping list, be thoughtful and intentional. You can get fun and creative gifts without spending a fortune on the latest and most expensive electronic gadgets. Go low tech. Or even better, think of experiences—like museum memberships, zoo passes, or local theater tickets—rather than material goods.
- Be cautious about overindulging, especially in alcohol and rich foods. Of course, it’s fun to celebrate and treat yourself, but know your limits. And never, ever drive under the influence. If you are out and about, having a responsible, designated driver is a good idea, or take a cab or public transportation.
- Give the gift of time. Do you have a relative, friend, or neighbor who is alone or lonely? Spend some time with them! Play cards, bake your favorite desserts, or watch a movie together with a big bowl of popcorn. Or, you can volunteer at your local senior center, shelter, or children’s hospital. Make someone else happy while warming your soul.
- If something goes wrong, like if you burn the apple pie or someone spills cranberry sauce all over the lace tablecloth, don’t panic. Laugh about it. Holiday fiascos often make excellent and entertaining stories in the future!
- If you tend to get overwhelmed by social engagements, remember you don’t have to accept every invitation. Maybe cookie exchange parties aren’t your thing, or you don’t care about making it to midnight on New Year’s Eve. Choose a few celebrations that really appeal to you and politely decline the rest. And even during a celebration, it’s okay to step away for a few minutes to recharge, especially in those moments when it feels like you can’t. That’s usually when you need it most!
The holidays will always bring their share of chaos—burnt pies, delayed flights, budget anxieties, and of course, that one relative who insists on bringing up politics. But after all the planning and shopping and coordinating, you'll eventually sit down with people you care about. When you do, don’t forget to look around your holiday table and enjoy everyone who is with you. Raise your glass to them, and to the ones you're missing. Then dig in and enjoy the meal.
The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and should not be attributed to Counslr, Inc., its partners, its employees, or any other mental health professionals Counslr employs. You should review this information and any questions regarding your specific circumstances with a medical professional. The content provided here is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as counseling, therapy, or professional medical advice.
Gobble gobble! The Halloween candy bowl isn’t even empty yet, but Thanksgiving is already here—and look over your shoulder, because here come Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the New Year. Maybe you are making your guest list or accepting invitations, deciding what dish to bring to your cousin’s house (she’s a professional chef!), making travel plans, cleaning the house and hoping the curtains arrive in time, figuring out whether there is enough money for presents and charitable donations—and trying to decide what to buy for whom.
Then there’s your job. Are you calculating fourth quarter sales? Maybe you have to complete performance reviews, write end-of-year reports, coordinate the big office move right after the first of the year, or justify to yourself or your boss why you didn’t accomplish more this past year.
What could be more predictable? Sure, this happens every year. But all of us agonize about the holidays as if it is the first time they are happening. What?? You mean Christmas is coming? Wow! When is that?
According to a 2024 poll by the American Psychiatric Association, having enough money for gifts and food are high on the list of concerns for all of us. The American Psychological Association reports that missing loved ones and anticipating family conflict are also major sources of stress. Along with the excitement and promise of the winter holidays, many of us also experience feelings of sadness and loss, thinking of those who are not at our holiday table this year. Plus, political disagreements can disrupt the happiest of family get-togethers!
We can’t eliminate the real and imagined stressors and competing priorities the holidays bring, but we can slow down and think about how to minimize the strain and avoid being pulled in multiple directions. Here are a few tips for easing the stress and some different ways to think about the holidays this year:
- Plan as far ahead as you can. Make travel reservations as early as possible and pack way in advance. Don’t leave everything for the night before!
- Decide how much you want to spend on presents and stick to it. Spending more doesn’t mean the present is enjoyed and valued more. (Bonus tip: Instead of every family member buying presents for everyone else, some families organize a Secret Santa and draw names from a hat. So each person buys one present, not a dozen or more. It’s fun and also cuts down on multiple, exhausting, and expensive shopping trips.)
- If you have a lot of children on your shopping list, be thoughtful and intentional. You can get fun and creative gifts without spending a fortune on the latest and most expensive electronic gadgets. Go low tech. Or even better, think of experiences—like museum memberships, zoo passes, or local theater tickets—rather than material goods.
- Be cautious about overindulging, especially in alcohol and rich foods. Of course, it’s fun to celebrate and treat yourself, but know your limits. And never, ever drive under the influence. If you are out and about, having a responsible, designated driver is a good idea, or take a cab or public transportation.
- Give the gift of time. Do you have a relative, friend, or neighbor who is alone or lonely? Spend some time with them! Play cards, bake your favorite desserts, or watch a movie together with a big bowl of popcorn. Or, you can volunteer at your local senior center, shelter, or children’s hospital. Make someone else happy while warming your soul.
- If something goes wrong, like if you burn the apple pie or someone spills cranberry sauce all over the lace tablecloth, don’t panic. Laugh about it. Holiday fiascos often make excellent and entertaining stories in the future!
- If you tend to get overwhelmed by social engagements, remember you don’t have to accept every invitation. Maybe cookie exchange parties aren’t your thing, or you don’t care about making it to midnight on New Year’s Eve. Choose a few celebrations that really appeal to you and politely decline the rest. And even during a celebration, it’s okay to step away for a few minutes to recharge, especially in those moments when it feels like you can’t. That’s usually when you need it most!
The holidays will always bring their share of chaos—burnt pies, delayed flights, budget anxieties, and of course, that one relative who insists on bringing up politics. But after all the planning and shopping and coordinating, you'll eventually sit down with people you care about. When you do, don’t forget to look around your holiday table and enjoy everyone who is with you. Raise your glass to them, and to the ones you're missing. Then dig in and enjoy the meal.
The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and should not be attributed to Counslr, Inc., its partners, its employees, or any other mental health professionals Counslr employs. You should review this information and any questions regarding your specific circumstances with a medical professional. The content provided here is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as counseling, therapy, or professional medical advice.
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