5 Common Holiday Anxieties And How To Handle Them
The holiday season is a time to reflect, relax, and make wishes. Yet, instead of joy as the holidays approach, many people feel uneasy, stressed, and overwhelmed.
This widespread phenomenon is studied by psychologists, marketers, and sociologists. It is called pre-holiday anxiety syndrome. In this article, explore explore the most common holiday anxieties and how to tackle them.
Common Holiday Anxieties
According to the APA, 38% of people experience anxiety as the holidays approach. This stress has several sources.
- December becomes a tight deadline for personal goals. Thoughts like "By year's end, I must..." or "Before the holidays, I need to..." create emotional pressure.
- People engage in endless comparisons. They worry about how successful their year was compared to others, whether they're choosing the right gifts, and if their appearance and behavior meet holiday standards.
- Social pressure adds to personal worries. Everyone is expected to smile, give gifts, and display happiness. Genuine emotions are often replaced by obligatory cheer.
- The biological factor completes the picture. The lack of sunlight affects serotonin production, leaving many feeling exhausted by the end of December. Consequently, the holiday period can feel like a stress marathon.
Here are the top five anxieties that can dampen the festive spirit.
Fear of Unmet Goals
In December, we're reminded of the promises we made to ourselves last year: losing weight, renovating the house, finding a new job, or improving relationships with loved ones.
This is particularly challenging for those with high standards. They see only the goals they haven't reached. You may have taken up a new hobby, established a sleep routine, or joined a gym. But if you didnāt get that promotion, the other achievements might seem insignificant.
Financial Anxiety
The holiday season can be expensive. Gifts for loved ones, festive meals, and entertainment for kids can demand substantial spending. Many start saving for the holiday season as early as summer, but funds deplete faster than expected.
The pressure mounts in late December when you realize that you're running out of money but still need to buy gifts. The dilemma is whether to go into debt or appear stingy to others ā both scenarios are painful.
Financial stress is compounded by comparisons with others. Social media often showcases extravagant gifts and perfectly decorated homes around the holidays. However, this is just a pretty picture, behind which are the same financial struggles. People tend not to share their difficulties as openly as their successes.
Fear of Loneliness
New Yearās Eve is traditionally spent with family and friends, but not everyone can manage that. While loneliness may not usually weigh heavily, it feels particularly acute during the holidays.
This anxiety is deeply rooted in the understanding learned from childhood: the holiday season is a time for family and unity. If you're spending it alone, it feels as though something is wrong. Intellectually, we may understand the absurdity of this belief, but emotionally, it lingers.
Fear of Change
Our brains dislike uncertainty. If things are stable now, the mere thought of potential changes can be unsettling:
- Concerns about work
- Worries about family health
- Fear of not realizing plans
This is how the psyche tries to protect us from potential difficulties.
This fear is particularly strong for those who value stability. They worry that changes will disrupt their familiar lifestyle. Even positive changesālike a new job, moving, or a weddingācan cause anxiety.
This anxiety is amplified by the feeling of pressure: the need to change something in life, set new goals, and become better. Even the desire to keep everything as it is transforms into a source of guilt.
Health Anxiety
Indulgent eating, alcohol, and disrupted sleep patterns can negatively impact well-being. Many worry about how their bodies will handle the culinary marathon of the holidays.
This concern is particularly relevant for health-conscious individuals. They know the holidays will upend all healthy habits: diet, exercise, daily routine. And they'll spend weeks getting back on track.
Giving up holiday feasting isn't necessary. You can find a balance by preparing delicious, healthy dishes and drinks.
Additionally, winter is traditionally the season for colds and flu. Falling ill during the festive period when everyone else is celebrating and relaxing can create a vicious cycle: anxiety about health lowers immune function, increasing the risk of getting sick.
How to Handle Holiday Anxieties: Practical Tips
Avoiding pre-holiday anxiety syndrome is entirely possible.
Don't strive for perfection. Allow yourself and your loved ones some freedom. If you don't feel like entertaining kids, making tired recipes, or inviting guests, don't follow these traditions. Instead of gifts, you can give money ā let everyone buy what they wish. Celebrate the holidays your way.
Use psychological techniques for managing anxiety. Consider how and with whom you really want to celebrate the holidays. Determine your true desires and plan accordingly.
Redefine the concept of a "successful year". Instead of focusing on what you didn't achieve, reflect on what you accomplished this year. Recall the right decisions you made, connections you formed, and those you helped in tough times. Often, the year turns out to be richer in positive moments than it seemed.
Take care of your health. Sleep more, spend time outdoors, and take vitamins. If you have dietary restrictions, plan your holiday menu well in advance.
Plan your budget ahead. Determine the maximum amount you're willing to spend and stick to it. Buy gifts throughout the year to spread out the budget load.
Instead of buying numerous gifts for family or coworkers, consider playing Secret Santa. Each person prepares just one gift ā an excellent way to save time and money.
To set a budget and quickly organize the game, use MySanta service. Here are its features you will enjoy:
- Automatically assigns who gives gifts to whom.
- Allows participants to add wish list preferences.
- Maintains suspense with anonymous chats.
- Lets you set exclusions to keep the surprise aliveā for instance, so spouses don't end up with each other.
- Works for any number of participants.
- Lets the organizer track gift progress to ensure everyone gets a present.
Conclusion
As the holidays approach, our psyche becomes especially vulnerable. Holiday anxieties are a natural reaction to expectations and change.
Allow yourself these feelings. Yes, there's a lot of holiday cheer around, but beneath the forced smiles, there are often the same concerns. You are not alone, so sharing your concerns with others and following our tips above can help.
