Have A Stress Free Christmas
Words Dr Annabel Gold
For many people, Christmas is filled with food, laughter, gifts and a time to remember, but for others, such a season has actually become the most depressing time of the year. Wellbeing editor Annabel Gold shares her top tips of how to combat the Christmas pressures and have a more peaceful end to the year.
As we approach Christmas, significant numbers of people are expressing their concern for the mental health of relatives, friends, spouses and children. For young children, Christmas is special if there is a big tree with loads of decorations, plenty of colourful presents under the tree, fun games, good films and an experience at winter wonderland. However, it seems that as we get older and take on more responsibility, Christmas becomes less special and unique. We’re no longer captivated by the beautiful colours from the Christmas lights, we realise that all the Christmas food gives us extra weight. We’re more aware of the pressure that accompanies the season. The pressure to socialise, the pressure to buy gifts, the pressure to decorate your house, even the pressure to be jolly when you don’t feel like it.
According to a recent study carried out on 2000 adult participants, 77% of them expressed that they find life difficult during the Christmas holidays. They said they end up feeling more stressed and worn down in comparison to any other time. 56% of participants say that the biggest source of anxiety comes from the extra financial burden. All in all, the holiday season creates the ‘perfect storm’ of heightened physical, emotional, psychological and social stressors.
Why does this happen?
The most difficult thing to do in this day and age is to master and be in control of your own mind, our minds are predominantly influenced by the media. The ideas and thoughts we get are subconsciously deposited by the adverts we see and the portrayed lives we scroll through. Christmas and New years is the time where people stage glamorous get-togethers within their family homes or other visually attractive settings. Comparison is a major cause of this ‘seasonal depression/anxiety’ - Looking at what others have can steal your joy. Another contributing factor to increased stress levels at this time of year is the role of social media, platforms such as facebook, instagram and snapchat fuel the fear of missing out (FOMO).
What can we do to change this?
In the midst of the most burdensome season of the year, it can be very easy to lose yourself in the noise and pressure. While the end of year season is ideally for relaxing, retreating, reflecting and refocusing. It is the perfect time to positively evaluate the year that has gone by and to realign your focus towards the coming year. The best gift you can give to yourself this season is some stress relievers that suit you. Pause to pay attention to your mind health through utilising any of these stress relievers this holiday season:
Explore yourself!
If there's a time to explore and discover, it’s now! A time to book an appointment with your mind, unravel and understand skills and ideas that you have hidden inside of you - you won’t know until you search. Writing and vocalising daily thoughts has a positive effect on our wellbeing - it is like offloading some of the mental baggage we carry.
Try This! - Mindful/writing sessions (10 - 30 minutes) - sit down comfortably in a quiet spot and simply write whatever is coming to your mind as soon as it comes in. it doesn't matter if it makes sense, don’t judge the thought just write it! No phones - No music, just you, pen and paper. - this will help you to see the many thoughts that enter your mind within the time limit.
Tip - Move forward - Continually come to terms with the fact that you cannot change the past experiences and memories, whether negative or positive. You can only change your attitude towards them, which comes through a process of development and understanding.
Express yourself!
Laughter is scientifically proven to positively alter dopamine & serotonin activity which is why it is used in therapy as a non-invasive, non-pharmacological alternative treatment for stress and depression.
Try This! - Discover the things, videos, programmes that make you laugh and take a dose of laughing everyday! Video call the most funniest person in your life.
Tip - Express - Learn to speak your thoughts to someone close to you, if you can’t say it out straight away, then write it out. - overcoming your mental struggles starts with being able to share those struggles with someone other than yourself!
Tip - Listen - Understand that it is okay to have many thoughts at once, but running away and trying to distract yourself from them won’t help. Take time to listen mindfully without judging or making any conclusions. As you listen to them, just simply write them down.