Holiday Stress Management Tips

The holiday season is supposed to be a time for joy and celebration, but for many it is also a time of stress. Between crowded stores, meals to cook, parties to plan, events to attend, relatives to prepare for, and long days on cam – where your friends online are venting their own stress about the exact same things – this time of year can take its toll on even the most calm and collected. This sort of pressure is the last thing you need when you’ve got to be all smiles and soothing voice on cam. What can you do to ease your headaches and frazzled nerves?

Coping strategies are important in order to maintain your best on-cam demeanor during this time of year – and they are equally important for your emotional and mental wellbeing overall. Let’s take a look at some of the most common holiday stress triggers and go over a few tips for how you can conquer them.

Money – The Root of All Holiday Cheer (and Stress)

Finances can easily take first place on a holiday stress list: how much we spend, how much we can spend, and how much we need to spend.

Thing is, you don’t have to empty your bank account for Christmas cheer. Make a list of everyone for whom you need to shop — including those outside of immediate friends and family, such as your mail carrier, hair stylist, veterinarian, and others —and decide what you want to purchase.

With shopping at your fingertips, you can save time and money, including gas money, by comparing prices online. Be clear with yourself about how much you can spend. Look for sales and coupons. You don’t have to purchase the most expensive items in order to express your appreciation or make someone happy. Check out the “dollar” racks and discount sections at local supermarkets and drug stores. You’ll be surprised by what you can find and how much you can stuff into a stocking without bankrupting yourself.

Your Dance Card — Scheduling and Time

Holidays are particularly time-consuming, and this is where date books, calendars, and lists come in handy. Planning is important, as is finding ways to remain focused when you are facing stressful events. Coordinate, delegate, and determine in advance what you need to do, and where you need to be. Write a schedule, and stick to it. Remember: It is not necessary to be all things to all people. You are only one person, and you cannot take on everything at once.

LET’S FIGHT! or, Not Talking Politics at the Dinner Table

The day is here and the guests have arrived. How do you handle pushy in-laws, buttinsky siblings, a micromanaging and controlling mother, screaming children, relatives who can’t stand one another, and holiday meals that end up looking like an episode of the Jerry Springer Show? Someone is bound to bring up this year’s election results as soon as the first plate is passed around. How will you deal with squabbling family members who drive you, and each other, over the edge?

First and foremost, keep in mind that when the Hatfields and McCoys decide to carry out their longstanding feud over dinner, you are not responsible for their behavior. Futile as it may seem, try to keep the atmosphere peaceful and diffuse the situation. Distract them if you can, try guiding them into a different conversation, but recognize that you can only do so much.

Lola Davina, our health and wellness guru at YNOT Cam, recently shared some insights regarding the art and virtues of discretion in “Surviving the Holidays (Part 1).” Less can be more when it comes to sharing personal information with family, and that’s ok.

Oral Cope-ulation – Sugar, Salt, Fat, and Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate

One more thing: Watch out for emotional eating. When it seems as if circumstances are spinning out of control, it’s easy to turn to food for comfort, and let’s face it – most of us aren’t going to face-plant into a plate of steamed broccoli. Mindlessly dipping into the Christmas cookies not only sabotages your waistline – it also wreaks havoc on your health as you overload on sugar, fat, and calories.

As the year winds down, the names of the game are Organization and Gentle-yet-Firm Boundaries. Find ways to organize your holiday plans, make things as simple as possible, and don’t be afraid to say “no” when “yes” means taking on too much. Prioritize some time each day to take care of yourself. Step away from stressful situations and take a few minutes to breathe deeply and (try to) relax. Turn off all electronic devices. Make yourself a cup of tea. Walk your dog. Do something, anything, to clear your mind and just be.

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Jenna Andre is a total gearhead who also appreciates the simpler things in life. Email her at Jenna.Andre@ynotcam.com.