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Stressed woman shopping for gifts of Christmas with red santa hat looking angry and distressed

The holidays are supposed to be a time of happiness and good cheer. While that often is the case, it’s also a time of year that can cause a lot of stress, depression, and anxiety. I read an article recently that describes a few of the things that can contribute to these feelings:

• Looming year-end deadlines as organizations are rushing to prepare for the coming year
• Holiday travel and the inevitable delays that come with it
• Financial woes with gift giving, holiday parties, etc.
• Family drama that results from having too many people under one roof
• Winter blues from the lack of sunlight, inclement weather, and colder temperatures
• Weight gain from all of the overeating and indulging in the sugary goodness of holiday baking
• Loneliness for those experiencing life-changing events such as a death, divorce, or simply not having a strong social circle of family and friends
• The stress of feeling unable to say no to the endless events and parties that happen this time of year

If you have ever experienced these feelings, know that you’re not alone. Simply admitting to feeling these emotions and understanding that others experience them from time to time is helpful too. There are a number of things you can do to cope with holiday stress in healthy ways:

• Aim to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Your body needs passive recovery time, so plan for a normal bedtime ritual.
• Prioritize your days. Keep a schedule and plan tasks according to their importance and deadlines. This will keep you away from procrastination and ultimately safe from worry.
• Give yourself permission to say no to certain activities. Balancing your time will help prevent you from feeling overwhelmed and stressed.
• Take a deep breath. Close your eyes and focus on slowly inhaling and exhaling to lower your stress level.

In addition to these tips, check out the following article for a few more ways to manage these emotions and ensure you have a happy and healthy holiday season!

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About Jen Bauer

Jen Bauer serves as Director of Marketing for Miron Construction Co., Inc. Jen collaborates with clients and business partners to create and execute marketing, branding, public relations and client relation efforts. With over eight years experience in the marketing industry, Jen is responsible for the management of all public relation activities, strategy and development of marketing materials, the coordination of project milestone events and serves as liaison for Miron’s numerous community events. Jen has been an integral part of the Miron team for the past seven years and holds a degree in English and Communications from St. Norbert College as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Lakeland College. She is a member of Sales & Marketing Professionals of Northeast Wisconsin (SMP NEW) and the Fox Cities Morning Rotary Club.

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