NORTH CAROLINA, USA — According to Sleepopolis, a sleep and mattress company, 8 in 10 Americans say that the holidays increase their stress level, and almost 3 in 10 say they get less sleep during Christmas.
There are several reasons that people stress out over the holidays. The financial stress of being able to afford gifts weighs heavily on many people. You don’t want to disappoint the most important people by not getting them what they want. It’s not uncommon that Christmas shoppers window shop for themselves while they’re buying for others. And they can have all kinds of thoughts running through their minds about where they’ve come up short. Another reason people are stressed out is that they try to make a grand holiday for everyone, yet there are family members and friends who judge when they come up short. These are the same people who criticize and don’t lift a finger to help. Also, there’s the stress of not wanting to be around certain people with whom you have strained relationships and who you can’t avoid.
Being stressed out can lead to negative thoughts. You have to be bigger than your negative thoughts because it can wreak havoc on your mental health. This is the time to realize that you’re doing the best you can, and you have to forget about what other people say, their expectations, and even what you wish could be different. You have to deal with the current situation and make the best of it. Make lemonade out of lemons, as the saying goes.
Taking care of your emotional health when you’re feeling stressed is important. Sometimes, it’s better to get control of your emotions before they take center stage in your life. You want to manage your feelings and not let them control you. Take a break. Walk into another room for a change of scenery or energy. Take deep breaths to help you relax. Repeat a mantra to help you get through the tension. A mantra could be, “I’ve got this.” Also, think of something to say to excuse yourself from an interaction you don’t want to be a part of. You can say something as simple as “okay” or nod your head. An “okay” or a head nod acknowledges what they said, but you’re not getting into a conversation or argument with them about it.
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