Do the holidays bring you joy or stress? For most of us, it’s a mix of both. Financial pressures, family dynamics, and keeping up healthy habits can feel overwhelming. In the Harvard Medical School article Holiday Stress and the Brain, Dr. Ellen Braaten offers insights on how to approach the season with less stress.
She emphasizes the need to shift our mental strategies—what she calls “shifting set.” This skill, a part of executive functioning, helps us adapt to changes by managing time, switching focus, and staying organized. With the holidays’ added responsibilities, Braaten suggests keeping realistic expectations and focusing on what truly matters to reduce stress.
Here are some tips to help manage shifting set during the holidays:
Set Realistic Expectations: The holidays can highlight changes in your life, like children taking over family traditions. Adjust your expectations to reflect these shifts.
Unplug from Work: Aim to disconnect for at least 72 hours during a vacation to fully recharge.
Prioritize Self-Care: Take time to journal, track your stress levels, and practice mindfulness or meditation to stay grounded.
Avoid Working on Vacation: Working while on vacation can diminish your intrinsic motivation and make it harder to return to work refreshed.
There’s another interesting article from the American Psychological Association about the holidays: “Even a joyous holiday season can cause stress for most Americans”
The article reports that while the holidays bring joy, they also cause stress for most Americans. Nearly 9 in 10 people feel stressed during the holidays, with common triggers like financial worries, family conflicts, and missing loved ones. About 41% experience more stress during this season than any other time of year, and 43% say it interferes with their ability to enjoy the holidays.
Here are 4 ideas to combat holiday stress:
Set Realistic Expectations: Avoid overcommitting and focus on what truly matters to you.
Create a Budget: Plan your holiday spending to ease financial stress.
Prioritize Self-Care: Take breaks, practice mindfulness, or schedule a relaxing activity like a float session.
Stay Connected: Reach out to loved ones, even virtually, to avoid feeling isolated.
We also recommend coming in to see us at Cap Floats!
Schedule a Massage in Auburn.
Do a Fire & Ice session.
Take a break in the Somadome.
Sweat out your demons in the Infrared sauna.
We hope to see you soon!
And hey, if you liked this post, check out another one of our blog posts on the importance of self-care:
Comments