Tips to Help You Overcome Holiday Stress and Anxiety

 

Stress and anxiety mounted as she fluttered around the room. An exasperated sigh escaped her lips, and she pounded the dough with the heels of her hands.

Finally, the woman said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40)

Christ’s words gently rebuked.

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.

 But one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41)

But one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41) #peace #holidaystress Click To Tweet

 

The Christmas Tree & Top Holiday Stressors

That Christmas, I might have been named Martha.

With their father deployed, I was determined to give my children a Christmas to remember, and I had created a long list of to-dos I thought might help accomplish my goal.

One of these included putting up a big, beautiful Christmas tree.

My oldest son and I had wrestled a large Douglas Fir through the front door–a trail of pine needles marking our route into the living room where we attempted to shove the trunk into a too-tiny tree stand. I was undeterred by its refusal to cooperate and battled the tree for more than two hours.

Eleven years ago, I learned several valuable lessons that will, I hope, help you overcome some of the top holiday stressors that lead to anxiety and depression.

One of those? Do not worry about the tree. Real or manufactured—the kids will love it.

 

Top Stressors that Lead to Holiday Anxiety and Depression

Maybe your pulse quickens when you think of the presents to be wrapped, the flood of party invites in your inbox, or the decorations that remain packed beneath the stairs or tucked in the attic.

You are not alone.

Almost seventy percent of people experience stress because of their perceived lack of time and money during the holiday season. Fifty-one percent feel overwhelmed by exchanging gifts.

Other stressors that can trigger anxiety or depression include:

• family arguments and/or events
• loss (i.e. recent divorce, death of a loved one)
• purchasing and preparing gifts
• decorating

Let’s tackle these one at a time.

 

Tips to Help You Manage the Top Holiday Stressors

• Take Back Your Time Politely decline business party invitations and holiday events that crowd your calendar with unwanted activity and try to shop throughout the year.
• Shorten The To-Do List Only decorate one room and the front door, for example, or share the responsibility with your family. Do you detest sending cards but do it because it is a tradition? Consider discontinuing the practice or send ecards.
• Money Doesn’t Grow on (Christmas) Trees Read this idea about working within your budget, consider making gifts (i.e. baked goods, soaps, decorated mugs), and wrap presents with gift bags and paper from the Dollar Tree.
• The Gift of Giving Consider donating to a group such as Exodus Road or Heifer International in someone else’s name. Send a card notifying them of your donation in lieu of a gift.
• Family Feud If extended family issues trigger stress, anxiety, or depression, consider celebrating at home with your immediate family.
• Loss and Grief Isolating during the holidays can lead to anxiety and depression. If possible, seek support from loved ones and groups like Griefshare.
• Reasonable Expectations Even if Christmas plans go awry, the day can be wonderful. Adjust if things look different than you had imagined they might.

 

The Truth About Holiday Stressors

When Martha and Mary prepared their home for the Lord, he desired time with them more than anything else. Martha’s efforts, though valuable, failed to develop that which lasted. Relationship with Jesus.

As we ready our hearts and homes for Christ this Christmas, perhaps we can shift from the worry of presentation to the posture of preparation and choose “what is better”.

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