Healthy Matters: Dec '24

Holiday parties, family gatherings, decorating, baking, shopping, gift lists, card lists…While the holiday season can be a festive time to enjoy the company of family and friends, it can also bring a great deal of extra stress, financial pressures, and fewer opportunities to relax.

However, it’s possible to enjoy the holidays without feeling overwhelmed. Here are some practical tips to handle holiday planning and avoid that stressed-out feeling:

• Focus on activities that energize and please you and your family members. Research shows that experiences make people happier than possessions. Focus more on experiences and less on things. A winter hike in the woods, sledding, or spending time as a family doing something to give back to the community can lift everyone’s spirits and create memories that last far longer than the latest toy or digital gadget.

• Stick to your budget and avoid the stress of credit card debt. Don’t spend more than you can afford, as tempting as it may be. Carrying debt may result in stress and anxiety long after the holidays are over.

• Simplify. Let go of perfectionism and relax more. You don’t have to have the best-decorated house on the block or prepare the world’s best holiday meal. Delegate tasks to others and let go of traditions that no longer serve you.