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Self Matters: Tips for Reducing Holiday Stress

The five-week mega-holiday begins with Christmas in July sales. However, the winter holiday season officially kicks into high gear with Thanksgiving Day in November. This time of year evokes as much joyful anticipation as dread. Sights, sounds, and smells—even traffic lights—seem festive. But the end of daylight savings time (DST) in most states means more hours of darkness at the same time weather conditions turn frigid and snow quickly turns to ice. We look out on bare trees and bushes, gray or white skies, and a stark absence of color. It seems all of nature is in hibernation except us. We get even busier.

The holiday period carries different meanings for all of us. Many people will gather with family and friends they have not seen for almost two years. Some will see their toddler grandchildren, born a year and a half ago, in person for the first time. Others are still unable to be with loved ones. The excitement and pressure of preparing for the holidays may seem overwhelming. Getting through this emotionally-charged time with minimum distress can feel impossible as we try to make our way through the flurry of activity and maintain our emotional stability.