Why the Holidays Intensify Stress

The holidays should be a time of joy, however many find them to be the most stressful time of the year. According to Dr. Katherine Nordal, executive director for professional practice at the American Psychological Association, people are commonly overwhelmed by the pressure to have the ideal holiday. Many factors play into the stress that the holidays bring, and understanding these can help you control your stress and hopefully enjoy the time of year a little more.
Too much to do!
The stress of everyday life can be difficult during an ordinary time of year, with many people juggling family life, careers and numerous other responsibilities. Add into that the many responsibilities of the holidays, and people begin to get a little – or a lot – overwhelmed. Suddenly you have to find time to shop for everyone, attend parties, bake holiday cookies, attend your child’s winter events and complete the many other items on your “plate.” As your precious down time gets whittled away, you may find your stress start to rise. People need time to relax without worrying about the things that they have to do. With so much extra to do at the holidays, many people simply feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all.
Pleasing everyone
Conflicting activities create stress as well. You simply cannot attend two holiday parties that occur at the exact same time a hundred miles apart. Deciding what to attend and feeling bad for not being able to do everything can leave one feeling stressed and anxious.
You also may worry about the gifts that you have to buy. Gifts should be fun, but if you are going from store to store without finding what you need, you could get a little frustrated. People may be asking favors of you for which you simply cannot spare the time, and yet you want everyone to be happy during this time. All of these issues intensify stress.
Money
Financial issues bring much stress during the holiday season. You may be on a tight budget as it is, and suddenly a variety of extra costs threaten to send you into debt. Try to be realistic about what you can afford to spend. Look for special but low cost gift ideas such as homemade crafts.
Various measures can make the holidays less stressful. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should plan a reasonable amount of activities in advance, not overwhelm yourself, say no if you really cannot do something, look for help, take time to yourself and be careful with money. Look at the aspects of the holidays that are personally stressful to you and make changes. With work and effort you can make the holiday season more about fun and less about stress.