The holiday season can be stressful – being around family for long periods of time, having to get lists of things accomplished, and hosting people in your home environment can all bring about stress. Without working on managing stress, stress levels can build during the holiday season, making it hard to be “cheery and bright” for all of your loved ones. It’s important to take your mental health into consideration all year long, but especially during the holidays if it seems that this time of year is especially difficult for you. Fortunately, if you feel overwhelmed about the thought of entering into the holidays, there are some things you can do to manage stress levels.

Some effective techniques to use to better manage stress before the holidays come around include:

Don’t Steer Away from Healthy Routines

If you are on a mental healing journey, you know what you have to do to keep a healthy mindset. This means keeping up with your routines that can help you manage stress. It can be more tempting to let loose around the holidays and slack with your routines. But, it’s more important than ever that you stick to them in order to stay on top of stress management. Some healthy routines to remember not to steer away from during the holiday season can include:

• getting enough sleep (going to bed on time, staying away from screens before bed, etc.)
• taking medications on time every day/night
• making time for self-care (taking showers, meditating, exercising, etc.)
• staying away from mood-altering substances (alcohol, drugs, etc.)
• eating nutritious foods and meals

Don’t Overexert Yourself

A sure way to get over-stressed during the holidays is to spread yourself thin. It’s easy to get carried away in all the activities and things that you need to do to make the holidays great for not only yourself but your loved ones too. However, it’s important to remember that you have a threshold for the things you can commit to. And, that it’s okay to say no when your plate is already full. One thing that can be helpful to do is to keep a schedule of the things that you have planned. You can also make lists of the things that you need to purchase and do. This way, you can remember what you have on your plate and have a reason to say no when things come up that may bring you more stress.

Make Sure to Take Care of Yourself First

The holidays are about coming together with loved ones and sharing with each other during this time of year. So, it can be easy to get swept away in trying to do things for others during the holidays. While being of service to others is a great thing, it’s also important to be of service to yourself. Don’t lose sight of this just because of the holidays. And, make time to take care of yourself so that you don’t lose sight of your mental health goals. Some things that you can do to take care of yourself during the holidays can include:

• getting out into nature
• writing down things that you’re grateful for
• listen to your favorite music or podcasts
• get some sleep
• meditate, stretch, or do yoga

Get Help if You Need It

Mental health crises don’t stop just because it’s the holiday season. In fact, more people may experience mental health crises during this time than others as the holidays can bring about heavier stress loads. If this is the case for you, don’t forget that you can always reach out for help.

If you are in need this holiday season, know that you can always reach out to help at Delray Center for Integrative Medicine. To speak with a mental health professional about getting help, call 561-220-5299 or visit our website.