What comes to mind when you think of the holidays? Colorful twinkling lights? Beautifully wrapped presents? Children’s happy faces? Or is it… stress? Is it you who has to put up those lights? After digging them out of storage in the basement or attic? Or maybe you’re the one who has to get all those packages beautifully wrapped…in between cooking, cleaning and getting holiday party outfits ready. Does planning for Christmas and the December holidays stress you out?
Multiple studies show that during the holiday season a majority of people are stressed out by lack of time, lack of money, and the pressure to give and/or receive gifts.
Was it always like this? End-of-the-year responsibilities like home organizing, yard cleanups, getting holiday lights up, gift shopping, and attending multiple events are nothing new. But let’s face it, in this high tech era, the holiday stress starts way before Thanksgiving. Now, we’re looking at packed calendars and miles-long to-do lists that run from October through New Year’s.
Here’s a quick list of things that stress us out during the holidays, and how to deal:
— Long lines at the mall. A crowded mall can turn any Christmas shopping experience from joyful to jarring. If you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy fighting for parking spaces, standing up to line cutters at checkout, or busting down doors to grab a deal on the hottest toys and electronics, then go Amazon, or your own favorite retail dot-com instead. I’ve done most of my holiday shopping online for years. Most of the time you can get free shipping. And in the few instances where you do have to pay for shipping, consider the cost well worth the time, gas money and aggravation you saved!
— Waiting forever to see Santa. Sure, as a parent we want that obligatory Mall Santa photo featuring the youngest child screaming on the bearded man’s lap. But you might want to consider some lesser-known Santa Claus photo opps. Rural areas often have farms that go all-out for Christmas. Santa and/or a special reindeer visit may just be part of the fun.
— Elf on the Shelf. That cute and adorable guy who’s added considerable pressure for busy parents at Christmas time. Many find those photos of the Elf toilet papering people’s Christmas trees hilarious. Leave them for someone else’s Facebook page. It’s not too late to ban holiday elves from your home. Tell the kids that the Elf was so impressed with their behavior that he decided it wasn’t necessary to keep a close eye on them.
— Your drained bank account. If the holidays leave you financially strapped, it’s time to do things differently this year. Be honest about your gift expectations when making holiday plans with family and friends. You can have a “no gifts” policy at the office, kids-only gift-giving at the family Christmas party, or do a $10 and under grab bag to keep things thrifty.
These are just a few of the many things we stress about during the holidays. This year, you have permission to take a stand against holiday stress! Get back to making the holidays the time of peace, joy and togetherness that they were meant to be.
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