As much as the holidays are that time of the year when families come together to celebrate, for many workers, it is accompanied by other stressful factors. From meeting tight deadlines to starting off with the New Year’s goals, finishing off with family commitments and shopping malls packed with the crowd; it all can be rather challenging.
If you are not looking forward to the chaos of the holiday season, it is safe to say that you are not the only one. This post is here to help, we will discuss how you can keep stress at bay while maintaining your productivity and being able to enjoy the holidays at the same time.
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Why Do Workers Feel Stressed During the Holidays?
Before going into the holiday stress relief tips for workers, it is important to note the common causes of stress which can generally help you tailor your approach depending on the scenario. Some of those common stresses are:
Overloaded Work schedules: This is a common thing across many industries who often experience a jam-packed calendar by the year-end.
Financial Pressure: Not just gifts, but travelling and events also tend to become very costly for many families, and these can tighten your budgets.
Family Pressure: With having to work while also taking care of a family, this can be a lot to take for anyone.
Social Pressure: There are certain social expectations that come with holidays, such as societal expectations of cheerfulness and perfection.
Getting recognition of these potential triggers can help you manage them effectively.
Practical Strategies to Relieve Holiday Stress
It doesn’t matter if it is dealing with holiday purchases at the mall or a corporate employee dealing with deadlines, these holiday stress relief tips for workers can help get through all of it.
1. Plan Ahead to Stay on Top of Deadlines
The process of organizing yourself and your time can be rather tedious, however, when you are able to do so, it becomes extremely beneficial.
Here are some of the things that we believe are essential in helping you manage your time efficiently and effectively during the holidays:
- Put your tasks in order of priority: Be able to recognize the tasks that are the most critical and attend to those first. This can be done through implementation of tools like Trello, Notion, or even a basic to-do list.
- Set Yourself Realistic Objectives: Never give yourself too many objectives as this will foster an impossible goal, remember you are just human.
- Share the Workload: When possible, delegate the work to the coworkers or family members. Collaboration can lighten your load.
- Block Your Calendar: In this case, the emphasis is on the need to work with a lot of attention, to eliminate all potential disruptions.
A smart and effective plan can be a great stress alleviator, if executed properly, it can give you a feeling of control.
2. Know When to Say No
It is very inconsiderate to take on too much work during a frantic time like the holidays. Communication can eliminate over commitment with both family and in the workplace.
- At Work – If for some reason it becomes impossible for you to complete all the tasks set you should reach out to your team and manager. If necessary you may need to reschedule your priorities and get everyone on board to do so.
- With Family: People may want to understand how much family time you are able to dedicate. It may also be easier to say, “I am not able to attend all family gatherings and events, please understand.”
Learning to set boundaries isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
3. Take Holiday Budgeting Seriously
I can coexist with this issue of stress. Most of it is with the finances. What works is to try and set a range and stick to it.
- Track Expenses: Use apps like Mint or YNAB (You Need A Budget) to monitor your spending.
- Gift Thoughtfully: Focus on meaningful, not expensive, gifts. Homemade or personalized items are often more appreciated.
- Plan Ahead: Shop early for better deals and avoid last-minute expenses.
Financial stress can take a toll on your mental health. By planning ahead, you’ll protect your wallet and your peace of mind.
4. Prioritize Yourself
Taking care of oneself should not be viewed as egotistical- in fact it is known to be beneficial to a person’s welfare, especially during intense stressful periods.
This should be regarded as an absolute necessity, not a bonus.
- Give sleep a priority: Maintaining your energy and reducing stress requires 7 to 9 hours of deep sleep daily.
- Exercise: Even moderate intensity movement such as a casual brisk walk or a quick short stretch may trigger the release of endorphins that would elevate your mood.
- Focus on mindfulness: Stressful and chaotic situations may be calmed by deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. Headspace and Calm are two examples of apps that can help you through mindfulness and meditation practices.
- A balanced diet: While indulgent holiday treats are tempting, balance them with nutrient-rich meals that fuel your body and mind.
Self care is essential because holiday preparations require strength and it ensures that you do not feel burnt out.
5. Use Your Vacation Leave
Make sure you put your unpaid PTO (Paid Time Off) to good use now. Rather throwing away a few days from work might assist you in resting, seeing people close to you, or just getting some energy back.
If extended leave is not possible, suggest switching to flexible options such as working half days or working remotely during holidays to your employer.
6. Focus on What You Can Control
Holidays can be tricky, and there are some chances when they won’t go as anticipated. Adopting the perspective of trying as much as possible to control only the circumstances which you can control and ignoring all else can aid in reducing stress greatly.
For instance:
- If travel delays occur, stay prepared with a book, podcast, or snacks to pass the time.
- If a family event feels overwhelming, take a quick walk or find a quiet corner to regroup.
- If work issues arise, tackle them one at a time rather than trying to solve everything at once.
Shifting your mindset to focus on solutions, rather than problems, can build resilience.
7. Stay Connected to What Matters
The deadlines and the shopping lists and other responsibilities may blind you to the whole idea of the holiday season. Make time for what truly matters.
Whether it is a holiday service that you wish to attend, or loved ones that you wish to be with, or even the community that you want to volunteer in — you need to make out time to do what matters most.
There is a joy in doing things that you like doing and this serves as a joy when in disabling circumstances.
Why Managing Stress is the Greatest Gift You Can Give Yourself
For all intents and purposes, the holiday season is expected to be something nice and relaxing, not a series of situations that one has to endure.
One can indeed withstand the hustle and bustle while still not being oppressed and depressed if you are able to follow these holiday stress relief tips for workers, like setting boundaries, managing expectations, and taking care of yourself.
This season, give yourself the gift of balance. With these strategies, you can shine at work, enjoy festive moments, and enter the new year feeling refreshed.