After Thanksgiving, the whole world seems to shift into holiday mode. You hear Christmas music everywhere, the stores are full of red and green, and the streets are lined with lights and tinsel. At work, there may be pressure to finish up big projects before everyone takes some time off. By the time the big family celebrations come around, many people are exhausted and stressed from weeks of preparations. Even those who don’t celebrate may experience low moods or feel a bit restless. Going to therapy and sticking with your mental health treatment plan is particularly important during this time.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss eight reasons why the holidays can be a very stressful time of year.

8 reasons why the holidays can be a stressful time of year

Everyone has their own unique relationship with the holiday season, and each year can bring different circumstances and different feelings. Whether you celebrate a winter holiday or not, it can still be very lonely, busy and depressing all at the same time. In most cultures, winter holiday traditions came about as a way to bring some joy and warmth into the darkest and coldest time of the year. Unfortunately, in many cases, keeping up those traditions and getting together with family can cause more stress.

The following are eight reasons why the holidays can be stressful for many people:

• Less sunlight and exercise — We need some sunlight and exercise every day, and getting out in nature can help us feel grounded. Shorter days and colder temperatures can leave us feeling physically unwell. Cold and flu season can take a toll on our mental health as well, increasing the risk of a low mood or exacerbating existing depressive symptoms.
• Busy schedules — Between work, family and other commitments, everything seems to ramp up during the holiday season. Planning for special days, making time to connect and achieving your year-end goals can add up to a very busy schedule. It’s easy to forget to take time for relaxation and self-care at the times when you need it most.
• Mental health conditions — If you have a mental health condition, your symptoms may feel worse leading up to the winter holidays. Changes in the weather are a big factor along with the pressure and stress of getting everything done in the last few weeks of the year. 
• High expectations — If you have kids, you may feel like you need to make their holiday extra special. Or maybe you want to re-create the same great experiences you had as a child. Having a specific picture in your mind of how you want your holiday to look can lead to disappointment if some of the details aren’t exactly right. Having high expectations can make it harder to be grateful for what you do have.
• Trauma and loss — Maybe all of your holidays haven’t been so warm and bright. The anniversary of certain traumas can bring back unpleasant memories. If you’ve lost a loved one, spending the holidays without them can bring up a lot of grief. Getting together with family may make it harder to avoid these feelings.
• Family conflicts — Most families don’t get along 100% of the time, and some are more toxic than others. If you have family members who can’t put aside their differences during the holidays, going to those celebrations can be very stressful.
• Financial stress — Budgeting and buying gifts for everyone on their list is the most common source of holiday stress, affecting 58% of adults. With high inflation and cost of living, this year will be especially tough. 
• Relationship stress — If you have a significant other, planning when you’ll celebrate your holidays together and whose family gatherings you’ll attend can put a strain on your relationship. Agreeing on a price range for gifts and navigating traditions together can also potentially cause tension.

Now is a good time to reflect on what the holiday season has been like for you in past years. Spend some time journaling about the way you prepare for your family traditions, when you’ve felt the most stressed and what parts of the holidays you really look forward to. Come up with some strategies you can use in moments when you’re feeling stressed, and schedule in your self-care time before things get too busy. Talk with your loved ones about what you’re doing to care for yourself and let them know how they can help.

If you’re having a hard time managing your stress this year, know that you’re not alone. Keeping up with regular therapy appointments or going to a support group may help. If your stress level is affecting your daily routine, you might need more comprehensive treatment. We always see an influx of new clients around the holiday season, so it’s a good idea to reach out and contact us as soon as possible.

At Lightfully, we focus on providing personalized treatments that help you in every part of your life. If you’re looking for a new approach to mental health treatment, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. Let’s talk about what’s going on right now and what kind of support you need to get through it.