With the rush and drama of the holiday season it can be easy to forget to take care of yourself. Many people prioritise family events, shopping and managing work over taking time to relax and we often neglect our mental well-being in the process. Therefore, it is important to plan out your stress free Christmas and maintain your mental health so you can navigate the challenges that arise during this time of year. You can do this by implementing practical strategies and scheduling relaxing activities to ensure that you not only survive but thrive during the festive season. So get ready to prioritize your mental health this year and discover the joy of a truly stress-free Christmas!
How does Christmas impact my mental health?
Christmas can have both positive and negative impacts on mental health. On one hand, the holiday season can bring joy, excitement and a sense of togetherness which can have a positive effect on your mental well-being. However, it is important to acknowledge that Christmas can also be a source of stress and mental strain for many individuals in one way or another. Looking at Christmas from both sides of the spectrum can give you an understanding of what you are feeling around this time of year and what others may be experiencing as well. The following will help you see how Christmas can positively and negatively impact your mental wellbeing.
Why Christmas positively influences mental wellbeing
Christmas is not only a time for celebration and joy but also holds several positive benefits for your mental health. It provides an opportunity for individuals to take a break from routines based around work and allows them to engage in activities that promote relaxation and mental well-being. These include slowing down and decluttering your mind. We are so focused on being on the go all the time we don’t get a chance to stop and smell the roses or enjoy life.
Being mindful of the future around this time of year is also very apparent as the New Year closes in. Thinking of exciting endeavours and opportunities in the next year and how you will achieve them can have a positive effect on your confidence. Having a stress free Christmas also allows you to appreciate and treat yourself for a long year passed. Going out with friends and family while doing something fun increases positive emotions while allowing you to feel connected to the ones you love.
By offering these opportunities for social connection and support Christmas allows you to experience a positive atmosphere which helps boost your personal wellbeing. This can be increased tenfold by also performing acts of kindness and generosity during the holiday season. There are so many people that need help more than we do. Giving gifts or volunteering can boost your mood and provide a sense of fulfilment and purpose like nothing else. By embracing the spirit of Christmas and focusing on the positive aspects of the season you can create a supportive and uplifting environment that promotes mental health for yourself and those around you in a big way!
Understanding why Christmas can negatively impact your mental health
It is easy to get caught up in the negatives of the holiday season and it can be hard to find ways to turn it around. The pressure to meet societal expectations such as finding the perfect gifts or attending numerous social events can lead to increased stress levels. Family can also be an issue around this time of year with old disagreements coming to the surface and ruining the mood.
Financial strain associated with holiday expenses is also a big one and can contribute to anxiety and depression during Christmas. This goes hand in hand with trying to “keep up with the Jones’s” and other aspects of society’s expectations. Some people even have a meltdown because the star on the tree is crooked. It can all be just too much sometimes!
Additionally, the holiday season can bring up feelings of loneliness or grief for those who have lost loved ones or are unable to be with their families during this time. Not everyone has a support system or close relationships to rely on which can leave a lot of people feeling lonely, sad and depressed. Some even feel angry at having to deal with the holidays and immerse themselves in work or unhealthy habits such as drinking alcohol and taking drugs. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of where people are coming from when they say they don’t like Christmas.
The best ways to enjoy a stress free Christmas while maintaining your mental health
Your mental health can be impacted at any time of the year and Christmas is no exception. Triggers such as financial stress, family drama, work intruding on personal time and even the pressure of keeping the kids entertained can set you off. Therefore, it is important to keep yourself calm and collected while creating a plan so you can tackle holidays with confidence and avoid holiday stress.
Focus and take a break
One of the best ways to cope with holiday stress is to prioritize what is most important first. If you can get the most urgent tasks done first then the rest is a breeze. Focus on one task at a time and get it checked off before you start on the next one. Don’t try to do everything at once or please everyone as you will get frazzled and stressed out because nothing is done. Also say no to anything that isn’t essential or meaningful to you. This includes work tasks or events with family or friends that aren’t urgent. Delegate any tasks you can to other colleagues or family members if you can and don’t be afraid to ask for help. You will feel plenty of relief if you do!
To make the most of your holiday break and ensure you actually TAKE a break it is important to practice self-care and relax. You don’t need to spend all your time during Christmas making sure everything is perfect. Take some time for yourself and do something that makes you happy. This could be reading a good book, listening to your music, going for a bike ride or anything else that gets your happy juices flowing!
Eat healthy and socialise
While you’re at it try not to overindulge in unhealthy foods during the holidays such as alcohol, chocolates and junk food. These can worsen your mood and energy levels while also being a trigger for anxiety and depression if you are not careful. You can indulge a little since it is the silly season but stick to your regular balanced diet and drink plenty of water, especially if you are drinking alcohol. Getting enough sleep is also important and just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean you can forget about a good night’s rest! Avoid disrupting your circadian rhythm and you will be enjoying the holidays just like you want.
Connecting with positive and supportive people like your best friends is also great for reducing holiday stress. You don’t have to spread yourself thin by going out to see everyone but seeing a few select people can do wonders for your mental health. Spend quality time with your family and friends and share your feelings and concerns as well as happy moments during the last year. This can help you get a lot off your chest while also allowing you to relive the good times.
Seek support for a stress free Christmas
Seeking professional help if you feel overwhelmed or depressed by holiday stress is a perfectly fine thing to do. You are not alone, plenty of people struggle during the Christmas season for various reasons. There is no shame in asking for help when you need it most! Support groups are great if you have no one you can talk to during the holidays or you could volunteer for a cause and connect with others that way. Participating in community events that align with your values and interests is also a great way to give back and reduce the stress you may feel during this time of year.
5 simple stress free Christmas activities that can help your mental wellbeing
There are many ways to enjoy the festive spirit and reduce your stress at the same time. Finding some peace and relaxation in activities surrounding the silly season can be a great way to boost your mood and generate positivity in your life. So here are five stress free Christmas activities that you can do that will help you cope with stress and anxiety during this time of year while also leaving a smile on your face!
1. Create a personalized holiday playlist: Compile soothing songs to relax and unwind
Music has a powerful effect on our mood and emotions while also being able to unlock various parts of the brain. It can calm us down, cheer us up or inspire us. That’s why creating a personalized holiday playlist can be a great way to reduce stress and enjoy the holidays. You can choose songs that remind you of happy memories or songs that simply make you feel good. The important thing is to create a playlist that suits your taste and personality. Then, whenever you feel overwhelmed or anxious, you can play your playlist and let the music soothe your soul.
2. Engage in festive crafting: Explore DIY projects that are creative and reduce stress
Crafting is not only a fun and rewarding hobby but is also a proven way to relieve stress and boost mental wellbeing. When you engage in creative activities you activate the right side of your brain. This part of your mind is responsible for imagination, intuition and emotion. By activating it you enter a state of ‘flow’ which is when you are fully immersed and focused on what you are doing. The state of flow is excellent for allowing you to forget about your worries and problems so you can enjoy the present moment. Festive crafting projects that will allow you to do this include making ornaments or cards, knitting scarves, building a gingerbread house and even baking then decorating cookies.
3. Practice mindful gift wrapping: Turn the task into a meditative activity and focus on the present
Gift wrapping can be a tedious and stressful task for some people, especially if they have to wrap a ton of gifts for the kids, the family, the extended family, friends . . . you get the idea. It’s a pain! However, gift wrapping can also be an opportunity to practice mindfulness. This is the awareness of your thoughts, feelings, sensations and surroundings in the present moment. Mindfulness can help you reduce stress and improve concentration while enhancing your mental well-being. All you have to do to apply this to gift wrapping is pay attention to every detail of the process. From choosing the paper and ribbon to folding and taping it. You can also learn to appreciate the colours, textures, patterns and sounds of the materials. Thinking about the person who will receive the gift and how much they mean to you is also great for boosting your mood.
4. Plan a solo, stress free Christmas walk: Take time to connect with nature and enjoy the serenity
Walking is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce stress while improving your physical and mental health. Walking can lower your blood pressure, strengthen your immune system, increase your energy levels and helps your body release endorphins. These are natural painkillers and mood enhancers which are excellent for helping you maintain your mental wellbeing. Walking in nature can also have additional benefits such as reducing inflammation, improving memory and boosting creativity. Imagine just taking your time and listening to the sounds of the trees and wind around you. The birds are flying by and singing while the sun warmly greets you with its rays of light as they land on your skin. Just the thing you need to unwind!
5. Indulge in a cosy reading session: Curl up with a good book and escape into another world
Reading is not only a source of entertainment and education but also a form of therapy. Reading a good book helps you escape from the everyday drama which allows your body to relax and cope with the stress and anxiety it’s been bottling up. By transporting your mind elsewhere you can forget about your troubles and immerse yourself in a story that makes your mind buzz with imagination. This helps stimulate the brain while allowing you to expand your vocabulary and inspire your creativity. Building a comfortable reading environment for yourself is also part of the fun! Lighting some candles, making hot chocolate and snuggling under a blanket is extremely satisfying, especially when you get to combine it with a good book and ‘me time’!
How can I transform my outlook on Christmas for a more positive experience?
Feeling overwhelmed and stressed during the Christmas season, or any time of the year sucks. It can severely impact your mental health and causes a bad shift in your mood. Therefore, it is important to know how you can turn a bad situation into a good one and protect yourself from mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. You can do this by changing your mindset! By adopting a new perspective you can transform your experience of Christmas into a positive one. This will allow you to prioritise your mental health over the holidays and improve your overall well-being.
Effective strategies for a stress free Christmas
One key approach to changing your mindset about the holidays and enjoying a stress free Christmas is to manage your expectations. Often, we put immense pressure on ourselves to create the perfect holiday experience. We create this ideal event in our minds that we realistically can’t achieve and when we realise that, we get depressed or angry. Instead of creating a grand idea of Christmas for yourself focus on realistic goals and keep things simple. No one is going to remember the 32 reindeer you placed around your Christmas tree! They will remember the conversations you have, the time you spent with them and how you made them feel. Think of it as your way of giving! It doesn’t have to be perfect, just real. By keeping things simple and inexpensive like this you can alleviate the stress you feel that is associated with trying to meet unrealistic expectations.
Another powerful way to improve your mental health during Christmas is to practice gratitude and mindfulness. Take a moment each day to reflect on the things you are grateful for whether it’s spending time with loved ones, enjoying festive decorations or simply having a break from work. Engaging in mindfulness exercises like deep breathing or meditation can help you stay present in the moment and reduce anxiety. By cultivating a mindset of gratitude in this way you can shift your focus away from stress and embrace the joy and meaning of the holiday season.
Please be advised this information may help but is NOT a replacement for professional health advice. If you are feeling unwell please speak to a medical professional.
