5 Tips to Cut Out Holiday Stress

Podcast Transcription 

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Hi everyone, thanks for joining me on this episode of PFCU’s Money Talk Podcast. I’m your host, Maddy. It feels like we talk about the holidays a lot from common holiday scams to sticking to your budget and recovering after it’s all said and done. The holidays, while a joyous time for many, can also be filled with stress. Whether it’s the stress of money, schedules, travel, gift giving, hosting, that holiday joy can quickly become clouded by everything going on this time of year. And I love Christmas time. It’s not even thanksgiving and my tree is up and my house is decorated. But of course, even for someone like me who loves Christmas, there is still stress. So, whether you love this time, hate it or find yourself somewhere in the middle, I want to share some tips to find a healthy holiday balance and make sure that your mental health is accounted for too.

Tip number 1 is to stick to your routine. With all the gatherings, travel, shopping, decorating, it can be difficult to stick to your normal schedule. However, it’s important to find some kind of consistency in all of the chaos. Whether it’s your workout routine, what you’re eating, how much you’re sleeping, try to maintain some of that normalcy so you can continue to be your best self, however that looks for you!

Tip number two is that less is more. From Santa visits and making homemade cookies to decking the halls and lending an extra hand at your local food bank, we don’t want to overload our schedule trying to do every possible activity. Pick and choose what is most important to you and your family and scale back where you can while giving yourself some time in-between events. It might also help to stick close to home when you can. So, instead of driving 2 hours to that big event to see Santa for 5 minutes, is there a local business that has Santa visit? We don’t want to do so much that we either miss out on what’s really important or we’re not fully present on what we are doing.

Tip number three and this can be a tough one for a lot of people, including myself, is that it’s okay to say no. Now I know that holiday time and being an adult means that yeah, you might need to push your limits at times but you also need to get comfortable with setting boundaries and sticking to them. Saying no to parties for whatever reason, no to extravagant gifts, dare I say no to unwanted guests? Or anything else that might sacrifice your happiness and your mental health.

Tip number 4 is to be realistic. Make a pact with yourself during the holidays not to set the bar too high. We all want to have a magical holiday but having too high of expectations can cause extra spending, extra stress and a lot of times, disappointment. Focus on the things that make you happy and what’s truly important. Did your baby cry when he saw Santa, ruining that picture perfect moment you had in your head? That’s a memory you’re going to look back on. Did the cookies get a little burnt on the bottom? Sounds like a problem extra frosting could solve or a trip to the store. Are the higher prices making Christmas feel a little tight this year? Remember, your budget is flexible and we all have a little creativity deep inside.

And tip number 5 is to not be afraid to reach out. Yes, the holidays are meant to bring people together and spread joy but this time can also cause feelings of loneliness and isolation. If you’re feeling this way, seek out community, social, religious events, and spend time with loved ones, if possible. If any feelings arise regarding suicide, you are  not alone and help is available, please contact 911 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1(800)273-8255.

Thanks again for joining, have a happy and safe holiday season!

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