Coping with Holiday Stress

Coping with Holiday Stress

Written by: Caitlin Courshon

It’s the holiday season. Anna is filled with hope and excitement about having her children at home for two weeks during their school’s winter break. Anna’s home is picture-perfect – filled with winter warmth and holiday cheer…and chaos. Her children are running at full-speed through the kitchen, excited about the days off from school and a routine-free schedule.

Anna’s thoughts are swirling about how to create a “perfect” winter break with her children. She thinks to herself, “How do I reduce their noise and focus their attention? How do I plan exciting and interesting days that don’t break the bank? How can I increase our family connection and happiness while still having time to enjoy the season myself? How do I turn ‘wild’ into ‘wonderful’?” Collecting her thoughts, Anna finds a quiet space and takes a few minutes to write a list of activities and events that she hopes will accomplish her goals for family fun.

Does Anna’s story sound familiar?
Research shows that the holidays are a joyful time for many families. However, around 38% of people also say that their stress increases at this time of year. This isn’t surprising considering the many demands the holidays bring, like hosting guests from out of town, planning special activities, finding the perfect gifts and being able to afford all the holiday fun.

Luckily, research also reminds us that there are simple ways to de-stress the holiday season.

Top Tips for Handling Holiday Stress
1. Plan ahead. Research shows that planning and managing your time are key ways to handle stress.

Think ahead this holiday season about your family’s goals and consider which ones are top priorities. You don’t have to do it all, and that’s okay! Does your family love to go ice skating every year? Plan the outing in advance so you know you’ll have time to go. Does last-minute shopping overwhelm you? Plan ahead and get your shopping done before the holiday events. Remember to set aside some time for yourself this season. Try baking cookies, watching a favorite holiday movie or going for a walk. Dust off your old planner or family calendar if that helps you to stay organized.


2. Pay attention to the positive. Research shows that people who regularly pay attention to the positive are better able to cope with stress.

It’s understandable that the holiday season might stress you out, but try to focus on the parts of the holidays that you love! Things don’t always have to be perfect. Instead, set realistic expectations and look on the bright side if things don’t go exactly as planned. Think ahead about positive ways to manage the many events at this time of year. If plans change at the last minute, focus on turning this into an opportunity rather than a disappointment.


3. Spend time strengthening your social connections. Research shows that building and maintaining positive relationships with others is a key way to manage stress.

Plan time with your family to enjoy each other’s company! Spend an evening driving around to look at holiday lights, visit a neighbor, take an afternoon to create a craft, cook or bake together or visit local holiday events. Check out Imagine Children Museum’s event calendar for upcoming events like Polar City and the New Year’s Eve Pajama Party!

Happy holidays to all!