Use Moderation and Common Sense to Overcome Holiday Stress

By Jan Johnson

November 28, 2003

As joyous as the holidays can be for many people, they can also be a very stressful time for others.

According to CU-Boulder Psychologist Jan Johnson, anyone who has ever experienced stress during the holidays should try to plan activities that will help them relieve the stress.

"If you know you've had some kind of reaction to the holidays in the past and it's been stressful, try something a little bit different this year and do something that you feel is going to be really positive for you," she advises. "Look at what your needs are around the holidays rather than trying to please everyone."

Johnson, who counsels people on stress management techniques, said families can be a major source of stress during the holidays.

"Be very realistic about your family," said Johnson. "We know what our family members are like, and just because it's a certain time of year doesn't mean that they will act any differently or be any different with us."

Another source of stress at the holidays is being excessive, whether it's spending money or eating or drinking too much, Johnson said. Her advice is to "try to act in moderation around everything, around your spending, around your consumption of food and alcohol, and know that if you are excessive in those areas it's going to bring on additional stress."

To avoid excessive spending, Johnson suggests that families find creative ways to buy presents, such as drawing names of relatives and buying gifts for one person rather than a dozen or more.

Traveling during the holidays also can be stressful, she said. If you do travel, Johnson recommends thinking about stress-reducing activities you can do once you get to where you are going.

"Find some fun things to do," said Johnson. "Or, if you are in a town where you have some old friends, seek them out and spend some quality time with them."

According to Johnson, the holiday season is the busiest time of year in the mental health field. And it is especially troublesome for people who do not have families they can be with during the holidays.

For people who find the holidays make them unhappy, she advises they change their holiday strategies or see a counselor.