For many of us, the holiday season can bring an increased sense of family responsibility and, along with it, additional feelings of stress. Advertisements about the joys of the season can seem lost on us as we scurry around trying to do even more than usual. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
Unfortunately, we may turn to unhealthy stress management behaviors to keep going. APA’s 2023 holiday stress survey found that approximately 38% of adults who experience stress during the holiday season reported using negative coping mechanisms such as isolating themselves, overeating or restricting their diets, or relying on substances like alcohol or nicotine to feel better. These actions don’t help and often make us feel worse.
There are better, healthier, and longer-lasting techniques we can use to make holiday stress—and other stressful times—more manageable.