How to Manage Holiday Stress With Thanksgiving Planning

Holiday stress doesn’t need to wreak havoc on your mental wellbeing; simply recognizing triggers and learning stress-reduction techniques will be enough for you to navigate this festive season with ease.

Financial pressure, hectic schedules and family dynamics can add additional layers of strain around Thanksgiving. Intensive Outpatient Programs and Family Therapy may be effective solutions to managing holiday-related anxiety while increasing coping capabilities.

1. Take care of yourself

People typically associate the holidays with twinkling lights and festive gatherings; however, stress is also an integral part of celebrating these joyous events. A 2021 study found that three in five Americans experienced negative impacts on their mental health during this time. Realistic expectations, financial strain, travel obligations and emotional unease can often prove daunting challenges during holiday celebrations.

One of the primary sources of holiday stress is pressure to create the ideal celebration. This pressure can manifest itself in various forms, from searching for gifts to hosting an ideal Thanksgiving meal. Unfortunately, striving for perfection can contribute to feelings of inadequacy, depression, and anxiety – instead focus on what matters to you while setting realistic goals.

Holiday stressors include expenses related to gift-shopping, parties and travel costs as well as feelings of loneliness during this season; especially if they have lost someone they cared for or have become estranged from family members. This can result in anxious feelings leading to unhealthy coping behaviors like binge eating or excessive drinking.

A key strategy to managing holiday stress is prioritizing self-care. This may involve making time for rest and relaxation, working out regularly, forgoing alcohol and drug use and practicing mindfulness meditation. Furthermore, eating healthily and getting enough rest are both key components to staying stress-free during this busy period. Furthermore, try not to overcommit yourself or allow stressors to become overwhelming.

Reframing how we perceive stress is also beneficial. If you find yourself overwhelmed by all the gifts to purchase, shift your thoughts toward those whom they’re for and how much you love and appreciate them instead – this may help ease the burden of shopping while simultaneously making it more pleasurable!

If holiday stress has you feeling overwhelmed, seek professional assistance. Greater Boston Behavioral Health offers various programs – partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient services – which may help manage symptoms.

2. Don’t overdo it

Stress and anxiety over the holidays can wreak havoc on family dynamics. Even when following all of the conventional tips for mitigating Thanksgiving stress such as starting early, shopping online, and keeping in touch with guests, unexpected issues will arise which are outside your control; perhaps your flight was delayed, or Uncle Bob overindulged at dinner; yet there are several strategies available to you that may lessen their effect.

One of the best ways to manage Thanksgiving stress is by setting healthy boundaries. Boundaries serve as emotional safeguards that allow you to navigate difficult interactions that drain energy or cause anxiety, protecting both physical and mental health.

Prior to any holiday celebrations, setting clear expectations with family members can help minimize misunderstandings and lower stress levels. You should even practice responses for common conflictual conversations – having clear phrases like “I’m not comfortable discussing that right now” or “Let’s agree to disagree” can make it easier for you to diffuse any uncomfortable discussions that are making you anxious.

Limit the number of people you spend time with during Thanksgiving to help reduce tensions and avoid getting drawn into difficult conversations. Reminding yourself why you’re there can also help, since family functions may be stressful; remembering why you are there – to see loved ones and celebrate this holiday season – will keep your focus on staying centered and grounded.

Holidays can be an emotionally taxing time. By practicing self-care, setting personal boundaries, and reframing what Thanksgiving means to you, you can enjoy a joyful, meaningful and stress-free celebration.

3. Ask for help

Holiday seasons can often bring elevated levels of anxiety. Social interactions and financial obligations may aggravate existing relationship traumas; Thanksgiving gatherings may resurface old tensions, amp up insecurities and create an atmosphere of emotional fatigue – it is important to realize these feelings are normal and that you don’t need to endure them alone.

Assuring yourself of holiday stress is best done through seeking assistance as needed – such as with grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning; providing emotional support when things become challenging; creating an action plan to cope with moments of overwhelm such as writing in a journal or calling trusted friends to check in;

At this time of year, it’s also vitally important to set boundaries. Boundaries serve as emotional safeguards and are highly effective at safeguarding both mental and physical wellbeing. You may need to prepare statements such as, “I’m not comfortable discussing that right now” or, “Let’s agree to disagree”. Creating such boundaries does not involve shutting out people; rather it creates an environment of emotional equilibrium and self-protection.

Co-parents should discuss plans and expectations for Thanksgiving with their partner before it arrives. By coming to an agreement before Thanksgiving Day arrives, this can prevent miscommunication or disagreement during the day itself.

Keep children in mind when considering changes to Thanksgiving traditions and family dynamics this season, such as new family dynamics or complex feelings or grief that they are experiencing. Therapy may provide much-needed support. If communication with an ex is proving challenging before Thanksgiving arrives. Our MyCHN team wishes everyone a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!

4. Don’t forget the little things

Even when planning earlier and shopping online to avoid crowds, or being extra diligent about cleaning kitchen sinks, something may still catch you by surprise during the holidays. That’s okay – life often happens outside your control so when something causes stress just remember: we can’t control everything but we can control our reactions to whatever comes our way!

Emotional fatigue, anxiety and pressure may resurface at family gatherings and create unwelcomed tensions or unresolved emotions that were previously unexplored. Setting healthy boundaries ahead of time to disengage from difficult conversations is an effective way to protect emotional well-being.

Stress may often be seen as negative, but it can actually be very energizing and motivational. Learning how to use positive thinking techniques – deep breathing or calling on friends in moments of strain – to manage stressful moments could help ensure you go into this holiday season with grace and gratitude.