Coping With The Holidays – 7 Strategies To Master The Festive Season

The holiday season is around the corner…but hand to heart: are you looking forward to the upcoming holiday season or are you more worried about coping with the holidays? Below are 7 empowering strategies to help you master the festive season without compromising on your well-being.

The holidays…the same procedure as every year…

The holidays are meant to be filled with joy, love, and creating magical family memories, right? But we all know and have experienced that what is considered to be the happiest time of the year can look very different in reality.

A burnt turkey, aunt Katy turning up late to the Christmas party, and instead of the Christmas pudding, she brought an unexpected plus one who she met at the pub last night, the cousins who can’t stand each other arriving on your doorstep at the same time (shit…must have mixed up the dates), and the dog that keeps barking at the Christmas tree for some reason…

I know this sounds very much like a super cheesy Bridget Jones movie scene, but as wonderful and magical as the holidays sound on paper, for many people, the holidays also come with a lot of pressure, and enjoying the holidays can quickly turn into coping with the holidays.

There is so much pressure to create the perfect festive dinner, to find the perfect holiday gifts, to create the perfect atmosphere, and to make everyone feel happy for picture-perfect holiday memories.

Apart from the fact that ‘perfect’ is an illusion, all these expectations can be super exhausting and emotionally overwhelming.

And in addition to all these expectations, the holidays can also bring up a lot of memories and emotions.

So if you are dreading the holiday season, don’t worry, you are not alone. Statistics show that approximately 38% of people felt that their stress levels increased during the holiday season.

Full disclosure…I am one of these people.

Coping with the holidays – how does holiday stress show?

Holiday stress can affect everyone and depending on your past experiences and memories, it can show in many different ways e.g.:

• Sadness
• Loneliness
• Grief 
• Body aches (e.g. tight neck, lower back pain, etc.)
• Lack of sleep
• General nervousness
• Anxiety
• Etc.

The list goes on. But, does any of the above sound familiar to you?

And yes, maybe you have experienced holiday stress in the past without even knowing that this is what is considered to be holiday stress.

Coping with the holidays – get clear about the ‘Why’

When it comes to holiday stress and coping with the holidays, knowing and understanding the ‘Why’ is key to finding the most effective strategy to help and support you in these moments of overwhelm.

The ‘Why’ will help you to better understand what triggered your holiday stress and emotions in the first place and once you better understand the cause of your holiday stress, coping with the holidays might still be challenging, but it will certainly make life easier as you can better prepare yourself for these moments and when they happen you can go back to your toolbox and support yourself the best possible way.

Journaling is a great way to dig deeper and better understand ‘Why’ you are feeling stressed and what triggered your feelings and emotions in the first place.

Journaling helps to take a step back, look at the situation from a distance, and get a new or different perspective on things.

Below are some journaling prompts to help you dig deeper to get more clarity about your ‘Why’.

Tip: As you go through the journal prompts, allow yourself to be honest with yourself. This way you will get the most out of this journal exercise.

• How do you feel? Angry? Sad? Disappointed? Etc.
• How do your physical sensations (e.g., tension, relaxation, etc.) relate to your emotions?
• What thoughts or beliefs are currently running through your mind?
• What role do your core values play in how you are feeling about this situation?
• Reflecting on the situation, what/who did you feel challenged by?
• Are you placing any unrealistic expectations on yourself or others?
• Who or what is influencing your emotions right now (e.g., external factors, past experiences, societal norms, etc.)?
• Are there any patterns or recurring themes in your emotional reactions?
• When was the last time you felt like that? Are there any parallels?
• What can you do to support and care for yourself as you navigate these feelings?
• What actions or coping strategies have you used in the past to manage similar emotions?

Once you have finished with your journal exercise, take a moment to read over your notes and then, let it sink in for a bit…

Your ‘Why’ might come out while you are journaling, but sometimes it can also take a bit of time before you can name your ‘Why’.

If you can’t name your ‘Why’ right away, trust that it will be revealed to you, it always does. Keep doing the work, monitor the situations, look for parallels, keep journaling, etc.

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Coping with the holidays – 7 empowering strategies

Below are 7 empowering strategies to help coping with the holidays.

Keep in mind that we are all different and what works for one person might not be the right strategy for you. Revisit your ‘Why’ and let your ‘Why‘ guide you in the right direction of finding the most effective strategy for you.

Coping with the holidays #1: Keep up your routines

First and foremost, keep up your daily routines. Routines offer a sense of stability and grounding, they allow room for yourself which is super important not just during the holidays, but also during the year in general.

Routines can help you to look after your physical and mental well-being. In addition to this, they help to keep us on track and motivated to create a life that matters. A life with meaning and a deep sense of purpose.

When the root is strong, the fruit is sweet

Bob Marley

If you have a morning routine or an evening routine in place, make sure to keep them up during the holidays, even if your calendar gets a bit busy with all the social engagements during the holiday season.

If you find yourself struggling with time for your routines during the holiday season, remind yourself of all the benefits that your routines bring to your daily life and well-being in general.

Keep your foundation strong. Commit to yourself and keep showing up for yourself.

Tip: If you are new to routines, but are intrigued to find out more, check out my blog posts on how to start a morning routine and/or an evening routine. If you are looking for more productivity in your daily life, you might also like my blog post on how to start a Sunday routine.

Coping with the holidays #2: Keep up healthy habits

I know…the holidays can be super tempting and indulgence is everywhere…but be strong and yes, you can do this.

Make sure not to throw all of your healthy habits out of the window just because it’s the holiday season.

Keeping up your healthy habits does not mean that you have to resist indulgence, as with everything in life it is all about finding the right balance.

A few healthy habits that will help coping with the holidays are: keeping a balanced nutrition, staying hydrated, regular exercise, and making sure to get enough beauty sleep.

Keep it simple and focus on the above. By keeping up these 4 healthy habits during the holidays, you can already strike a balance between enjoying the festivities and maintaining your well-being.

Yes, the holidays are a time to celebrate, but taking care of your health physically and mentally will contribute to an even more enjoyable festive season.

Related blog posts: 10 Healthy Lifestyle Habits For Busy Women, 5 Steps To A Healthy Lifestyle, 11 Toxic Habits To Quit For A Happier And Healthier You.

Coping with the holidays #3: Acknowledge your feelings

The holiday season can bring up lots of emotions for very different reasons. While it is a time of celebration, joy, and togetherness for many people, it can be challenging for others due to a combination of different factors.

Reasons why the holidays might be emotionally challenging for some people are for example memories of loved ones who passed away, family conflicts, childhood trauma, feelings of loneliness and isolation, financial pressure, comparison, too high expectations, etc.

If you feel any of these emotions coming up during the holidays, have compassion with yourself and know that you are not alone.

Acknowledge that it is normal to feel these emotions just as much as you feel happiness. Try your best to welcome these emotions when they come up, sit with them, and let them be.

What I like to do in moments like this, is to step on my yoga mat and move, followed by a meditation and journal exercise. The movement helps me to move the energy around. The meditation allows me to get a clear focus and feel whatever is coming up and journaling is a great way to work through these emotions and better understand where they originated.

And of course, should you ever need help, make sure to reach out to a friend or professional to seek the support you need.

Coping with the holidays #4: Make time for self-care activities

We all know the feeling, the holiday season hasn’t even started, and the diary is already filled with appointments. Family engagements, social engagements, work engagements, etc. all pile up…

When life gets busy, the first thing we tend to do is we cut back on ourselves. However, allowing time for self-care activities during the holiday season is crucial as it can help to better manage stress and support your physical and mental well-being. And this in turn, yes you know where I am going with this, allows for a more balanced and joyful holiday experience overall.

Make sure to block out some self-care time in your calendar in advance over the holiday season.

Identify activities that bring you joy and light up your heart and soul. E.g. reconnect with nature, spend time reconnecting or doing a hobby, read a book, do some journaling, spend time with a friend, treat yourself to a massage, etc.

Enjoy and indulge…just YOU for YOU.

Tip: If you are looking for some self-care activities and self-care ideas, make sure to check out my blog post 12 Icy Cool Self-Care Ideas For Winter and/or Sweet Escapes: The Best 17 Treat Yourself Ideas.

Coping with the holidays #5: Learn to say ‘No’

Saying ‘No’ is never easy, especially when it comes to family and friends.

But saying ‘no’ is important as it plays a crucial role in maintaining your well-being. In addition to this, saying ‘no’ will help you to better manage your time, set clear boundaries, build stronger and long-lasting relationships, and allow you to make choices that are aligned with your values and priorities.

Keep in mind that how you treat yourself, shows the people around you how you want to be treated. In a way, saying ‘no’ means saying ‘yes’ to yourself.

Coping with the holidays #6: Connect with nature

Put on your winter boots, wrap up warm, and take a nice long walk in the beautiful crisp winter wonderland.

Breathe in the fresh crisp air, hug a tree, appreciate nature’s beauty, and reconnect with your origin.

We are nature and nature has this wonderful way to help us ground whenever we need it most.

Engaging in nature has lots of positive effects as it can lead to stress reduction, lift your mood, spark your creativity, strengthen your immune system, etc.

Especially in winter, spending time in nature can be so much fun. Let your inner child out, build a snowman, make some snow angels, or simply enjoy the beautiful winter nature setting.

Coping with the holidays #7: Practice gratitude

Starting a regular gratitude practice can bring a lot of health benefits to your life physically and mentally.

Practicing gratitude brings more happiness into your life. You will notice yourself feeling more positive toward life, and having more compassion for yourself as well as the people around you.

A regular gratitude practice can also increase your motivation, decrease anxiety, ease depression, and contribute to better well-being overall.

In addition to this, practicing gratitude will help you to bring more awareness into your life. You will notice yourself spending more time in the present moment and slowly, but surely, you are more and more opening up to the magic and abundance that life holds for you.

Mindset is everything and practicing gratitude during the holiday season such as e.g. keeping a gratitude journal or simply taking a moment to reflect on the positive aspects in your life can very much enhance your holiday experience and encourage a sense of fulfillment during this time of the year.

Tip: If you are new to practicing gratitude or need some inspiration and tips to help you get started, make sure to check out my blog posts How To Start A Gratitude Journal, 7 Mindful Gratitude Activities For Adults, and 44 Daily Gratitude Journal Prompts. Start your journey to abundance today.

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For me, the holiday season always feels heavy on my heart and I try to escape the festivities as much as possible every year.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not a Christmas Grinch and I am super happy for everyone who wants to celebrate this time of the year, but I simply learned over the years that for myself, these days don’t matter so much anymore and maybe they never have.

So a few years ago, I started my own Christmas tradition and booked myself a trip to Mexico. I like to use this time of the year as a reset, to take a time out, reflect upon the year, and set my intentions for the year ahead.

Whatever you are up to this holiday season I hope you will have a magical time.

Rule number 1 when it comes to coping with the holidays: you do you honey.

Hopefully, these 7 strategies on coping with the holidays will help you to take the pressure off. And if you are looking to boost your holiday spirit, check out these 10 simple tips and tricks.

Related resources:

• Awakening Your Inner Light – 55 Shadow work Journal Prompts
• The Importance Of Core Values – Step Into Your Authenticity Today
• Manifest Like A Queen – How To Make A Vision Board That Works

And if you feel like moving your body, check out my weekly schedule, I would love to see you on the mat.

Thank you for being here, I appreciate you.

Happy Holidays,

Nicolle

Featured Image: Photo by Toni Cuenca on Unsplash