Dealing with Holiday Stress

Jessica Ireland

Happy Holidays! Or more like hectic holidays for many women. While the holidays can mean joyful events bringing family and friends together, it can also mean cooking a dinner, decorating the house and trying to fit in as many events as possible. A lot of this stress can be a result of expectations.          

“[There's] a lot of pressure on people to try to make the holidays as perfect as they can be,” said Dr. William Avison, assistant director of the Lawson Research Centre at the University of Western Ontario, and professor of sociology, pediatrics and epidemiology and biostatistics.

Fortunately, the stress from the holidays is short-term and can be dealt with, said Avison. People can deal with it by prioritizing what they really want to do, and not waste any time on the events they feel obligated to attend.

 Sari Friedman, an HR consultant based in Toronto, agrees that to truly enjoy the season, it’s good to be selective and mindful about events you want to attend. It’s also important to decide what you want out of the holidays. If an event seems too stressful, feel free to say no to it, she said. Also try to get ready for what’s ahead.

 ”Be prepared, look at your finances, and your calendar,” she said. “Make sure you don’t double-book.”

The holidays aren’t just for the home either. ‘Tis the season for work parties, and Secret Santa. An important reminder for your workplace shindig is that it’s not really a party. Treat it as a professional event, said Friedman. You want to be remembered in a good way, not because you drunkenly hogged the karaoke machine all night.

 The Secret Santa might seem like a drain on the piggybank after this year’s economic problems, but it can be dealt with appropriately. If it feels uncomfortable to participate, particularly if it doesn’t coincide with your personal beliefs, it’s okay to opt-out, said Friedman. You can say “Not this year, thank you.”  If you happen to chip in, remember to keep it professional, she said. What you might think is hilarious, may be extremely offensive to a co-worker – so by-pass the drama and stick to classy gifts like stationary.

 But while you’re making sure the season’s bright for those around you – remember to take time for yourself. It’s important to keep up with routine, said Avison. Get in some exercise and enjoy your holiday feasts – in moderation. “Just because it’s the holidays, it doesn’t mean we don’t need to exercise or get a reasonable amount of sleep,” he said.

 With a little planning and prioritizing, the holidays can be manageable and relatively stress free. But don’t forget the most important thing – have fun! Things may not work out perfectly, you may not make it to every event, but most important thing is to sit back and enjoy the sheer craziness of it because after all, what are the holidays without its quirks?