Holiday stress: 5 tips how to reduce stress during the holiday season
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — It’s a busy time of year, and you may feel under pressure with the hustle, the bustle and the stress during the holiday season.
"We’re trying to buy gifts. We’re trying to make sure our house is straight," said Kenza Haddock, clinical director at Oceanic Counseling. "We’re so focused on do-do-do instead of just be and enjoy the moment."
Haddock has five tips to help you get by as you’re buying, cleaning and always running.
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5 tips to reduce holiday stress:
- Slow down.
- Keep a consistent sleep schedule.
- Take a break to do something you enjoy.
- Seek help or encouragement if needed.
- Know when to say no.
"Slow down and take inventory of how you’re feeling and what your stressors are, then prioritize," said Haddock.
Prioritize sleep because her second tip is to keep a consistent sleep schedule.
"If we’re not sleeping enough, it compromises our immune system and we just go down a rabbit hole."
Haddock's next tip is to take a break.
"Be very intentional about taking breaks and doing something you enjoy."
She also said to seek help or encouragement of needed.
"We all need encouragement every once in awhile. There’s no shame in asking for help."
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She said there's also no shame in telling people no.
"With the holidays, we're bound to be invited to everything in the world. Prioritize. Know what you can attend and say no to the rest and don’t feel bad about it."
Know when to cut yourself some slack. Haddock said to give yourself grace. "A lot of times we give other people grace, but we don’t give that same grace to ourselves." Said it's OK to give yourself the next five minutes to freak out and acknowledge you're overwhelmed. "Acknowledge, 'Hey, I’m just overwhelmed and I’m OK. I will get through it. I’m not having a bad day. I’m just having a bad five minutes.' It’s about perspective."
With the right perspective and these helpful tips, hopefully you’ll have a happy (not-stressful) holiday season.
If you’re struggling with this holiday season because COVID-19 changed your plans, click here for additional tips and ways to help.
