Managing Holiday Stress: Strategies for a Mentally Healthy Season

The holiday season is frequently associated with joy and celebration, but it can also elevate stress and anxiety for many individuals. At CCMH, we fully understand the challenges that arise during this time, and we are here to help you navigate them.

To better equip you to navigate the season ahead, we've compiled a practical list of some of our favorite tips and strategies for maintaining your mental health and enjoying a more balanced holiday season.

Focus on Prioritizing Self-Care

Neglecting our needs during the hustle and bustle of the holidays can be easy to do. However, self-care is vital to prioritize for your stress management. Be sure to spend time doing the activities that recharge you and bring you peace every day, whether that's reading a book, taking a relaxing bath, or simply going for a quick stroll around your neighborhood. Taking care of yourself isn't selfish—it's crucial to your well-being and allows you to be more present for others.

Set Realistic Expectations

One of the biggest sources of holiday-related stress can be the pressure to create "perfect" celebrations and festivities. Instead of striving for perfection, try to set realistic expectations for yourself (and others). Focus on the meaningful moments and connections that truly matter rather than getting caught up in minuscule details.

Practice Mindfulness

When you start to feel overwhelmed, take a moment to ground yourself in the present. Practice taking mindful, deep breaths or even try a quick mental meditation to focus your mind and relax your thoughts. 

These handy techniques can help calm your mind and body and reduce anxiety, and can often be done anytime, anywhere. Stepping away from holiday activities to center yourself for a few minutes is always okay.

Focus on Maintaining Healthy Habits

While giving up our everyday routines during the holidays can be tempting, try to maintain some healthy habits along the way where possible. Focus on prioritizing sleep and rest, eating nourishing meals, staying active, and doing whatever that looks like to you and your schedule. These good habits can impact your mood and energy levels in a positive way, helping you better cope with the myriad of holiday stressors.

Reach Out for Support When You Need It

If you're feeling overwhelmed, reach out to close friends, family, or professional support such as CCMH. Our team at CCMH is available to help you navigate this season, no matter what you need. 

Our Walk-In Clinic provides immediate support through assessments to determine your needs and help you get started with care at our agency. Whether you're facing holiday-related stress, anxiety, or just need guidance, we're here to help you take the first step toward the right mental health services. This is an opportunity to begin your care journey, not a therapy appointment, but we're here to help you get connected to the right resources.

Our team of trained professionals can provide counseling, coping strategies and tips, and the right resources to help you and support you on your journey to mental wellness during the holidays and throughout the remainder of the year. 

You don't have to face holiday stress alone. Contact our team and let us know how we can help.