On Sounds Good, Tracy Ross talks with Murray State University psychology professor Dr. Michael Bordieri on managing holiday stress.
Bordieri says data shows most people report feeling happiness, love, and joy during the holidays. But stress is also common, particularly among women. He says as many as one in five people report extreme stress during the holidays.
Bordieri says expectations of the perfect gifts, meals, and decorations can lead to holiday stress. He says letting go of those expectations can help you turn mishaps, like dropping the finished turkey on the ground, into opportunities for good family memories. Many people also experience stress around being unable to afford gifts. It can help reduce financial worries to find ways to show appreciation that don’t involve buying things.
It is also important to take care of yourself as you travel or host guests. Bordieri says it can help to take time for yourself, “a vacation from the vacation,” by going on a walk by yourself or doing some activity that allows you to focus on your needs. It is also important to balance your intake of alcohol during the holidays as it can interfere with your sleep and increase negative emotions.
Bordieri says focusing on small, simple moments and finding ways to have meaningful interactions with people can be a very rewarding part of the holidays.
