Holiday Stress

Unrealistic expectations are one of the top anxiety producers during this time of year.

The countdown until Christmas has officially begun and some find the weeks preceding the holiday to be the most stressful time of the year. Experts suggest that taking hold of the holidays can ease the anxiety during the build up until Christmas. Unrealistic expectations are one of the top anxiety producers during this time of year. The government assistance program for employees suggests that reining in expectations, planning time and allowing for the unexpected can ease the holiday stress. Creating a calendar of events and obligations early will enable recognition of over obligation. When the calendar starts getting full, it is time to say “no”. Not every event must be attended and not every request must be an obligation. Remember that this is a stressful time for other family members, as well. Children, spouses and even family pets may fall into the holiday frenzy. Letting go of the expectation of perfect behavior can keep stress manageable. Though there are extra activities to attend, try to keep the day to day family structure as normal as possible. Realize that, as the holidays draw closer, children will become frenzied and that it is a perfectly normal response to the excitement of the holidays. Do not fret about imperfect behavior, handling the big things and letting the small things slide. Lastly, it is important to remember that it is acceptable and normal to have an imperfect holiday. Every detail cannot be controlled and every reaction cannot be monitored. If the stress becomes too much, experts suggest removing yourself for some alone time. Eat well, sleep well and enjoy. It will all be a memory in a few short weeks.