The holidays seem to arrive earlier every year and with the season comes stress. According to the American Psychological Association article, “Even a joyous holiday season can cause stress for most Americans,” a 2023 APA/Harris Poll revealed that during the holidays 49% of Americans felt “moderate” stress, 41% reported feeling more stress than at other times of the year, and 43% noted holiday stress makes it harder to enjoy the season. While it may not be possible to eliminate all holiday stressors, there are ways to cope with and minimize them.
5 Senior Stress Tips for the Holidays
1. Know your stressors
Just knowing what aspects of the holidays cause stress can go a long way toward a happier season. According to the APA/Harris Poll the top stressor is money: spending too much or not having enough. Following that is choosing the right gifts, missing loved ones, being too busy, pressure to make the holidays special, food or alcohol-related concerns, being unable to be with friends and family, family conflict, feeling excluded, and traveling.
2. Take preventive action
Since many people experience one or more of these stressors, it’s best to determine in advance what stressors to anticipate and take steps to minimize them. For example, if money or spending are problems, set a budget and stick to it. Another option is to lower the number of gifts by starting a gift exchange where each member draws a name and gives just one gift instead of several. This can also help with choosing gifts when each person also provides a wish list within the spending limit.
For those who have experienced a loss, such as a parent, sibling, or spouse, the holidays can be especially stressful. When this is the case, the psychologytoday.com article, “How to Survive the Holidays When You’re Grieving,” note that one way to make the holidays less stressful is to change traditions so that a loved one’s absence isn’t so painful. It’s also important to understand that even the best efforts may not be enough and just leaving may be the best strategy.
3. Plan ahead to reduce stress
Needless to say, the holidays require a lot of commitment whether that means making dozens of cookies, shopping (and shopping and shopping), attending parties and events, and of course hours and hours of gift wrapping. It can be overwhelming and not a little stressful without a plan in place.
Start by shopping earlier and wrapping gifts immediately rather than waiting for them to pile up. For those who cook and bake, set a date and enlist the help of children or grandchildren. Not only will this speed up the process, but it is a great opportunity to share recipes and create a family tradition.
When entertaining, it’s never too early to set a date, develop a menu, and make a guest list. Since the holiday season fills up quickly getting invitations out and RSVPs in can help eliminate a big stressor before it occurs. For more ways to plan ahead for the holidays, the witanddelight.com article, “7 Holiday Planning Tasks to Do Right Now (So You Can Enjoy the Holiday Season),” is a great resource.
4. Practice self-care
In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, many people tend to make the season of giving about everyone but themselves. In return they feel exhausted, underappreciated and stressed out. Much like the flight attendant’s instructions to put your own air mask on before helping others, making a point of self-care is key to minimizing holiday stress.
Before deciding there’s just not enough time for yourself, consider the experts advice in the health.harvard.edu article “Remembering the “me” in merry: Self-care strategies for this holiday season.” From spending a few seconds practicing deep breathing to mediation to practicing gratitude, these little relaxing tactics can really help.
5. Eat right and exercise
The holidays are fraught with opportunities for overeating, gobbling up too much sugar, and drinking more than is healthy. But according to the health.clevelandclinic.org article “Tips for Eating Healthy During the Holidays,” keeping diets on track can not only keep calories off but eliminate the guilt and stress that comes from overdoing it.
For example, while it’s okay to “cheat” a little and enjoy an occasional treat, keep a balance by ramping up meals with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, eating before attending parties, and getting as much exercise as possible, like through aerobic activities. According to the healthline.com article, “10 Aerobic Exercise Examples: How to, Benefits, and More,” aerobic exercise helps burn calories, increase the heart rate, and keep stress under control.
As the holidays approach, another way to lower stress is to move to Ganton’s Countryside. For more information about Countryside, please call Margaret Nagel at (517) 206-5000 or download our brochure to learn about our care levels, cost, and amenities.
