Handling Holiday Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic by Matthew Lowe, MS, DO, MBA

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), you should do what’s best for you and your loved ones this holiday season.  This may mean taking care of yourself, doing what’s best for your household, and spending time with those in your own household.

What can you do to decrease or manage the stress associated with the upcoming holiday season when you can’t be with friends and family in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic?  Here are some suggestions:

1. Take care of yourself.  Being away from family and friends during the holidays can be hard.  When you talk with your friends and family about plans for the holidays, it’s okay to decide to stay home and remain apart from others. (www.cdc.gov)
2. Don’t focus on things that you can’t control.  Instead, focus on what you can control.  Sleep well.  Eat well.  Stay active.  Stick to a regular schedule.
3. Focus on positives, not negatives.  Don’t dwell on the negative and stressful things in the world right now.  Try not to focus on what you don’t have or who you can’t see during this strange time in our world.  Be thankful for what you have.  Focus on the joy in the world.  Find the true meaning of the holiday seasons.  Give yourself a reason to celebrate.  Even if the reason is small, focus on that positive thing instead of all the negatives.  This will help decrease your overall stress level.
4. Engage in meaningful activities.  Do things you enjoy.  Have fun, even if you are alone or you can’t be with friends and family.
5. Connect with friends or family members virtually.  Even if you can’t be together in person, you can still stay connected if you plan in advance.  Virtual meetings, games, gift exchanges, movie nights, dinners, and dessert parties can make you feel like you are sharing special moments with those you care about.  Reach out and connect with others without being with them in person.
6. Practice self care.  It is important that you take time for yourself this holiday season.  In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, you tend to forget about your own needs.  Do something that you enjoy or something that relaxes you every day.  Make this a part of your regular routine to avoid letting stress get the best of you.
7. Do what’s best for your household.  Doing what’s best for you includes eating healthy foods and getting enough sleep.  Take care of your body and stay active to lessen fatigue, anxiety, and sadness. (www.cdc.gov)
8. Avoid being negative about the pandemic and how it impacts your normal holiday routines.  This includes negative attitudes, negative conversations, and negative coping strategies such as using substances or overeating.  Negativity can reduce your ability to handle stress and can suppress your immune system.
9. Meditate.  Mindfulness is a simple tool that helps you stay in the moment when everything seems to be spinning out of control around you.  It is that special ability to focus on the here and now and not worry about the past or future and to enjoy what’s in front of you.  But mindfulness takes practice.  Meditation is a great way to learn to stay mindful and to focus on the moment at hand.  If you master this technique, you will feel more relaxed, happier, and more focused.  Some apps/websites that can help teach you mindfulness (and there are many more than these two) are Headspace and Calm.  Both are available in the app stores for free.

Remember that none of these strategies will work perfectly the first time you try them and they won’t work right away.  They take practice and they may take a while to work.  Stick with them.  If one doesn’t work, try another.  Try them all.  Also remember that you are not alone.  Many people out there feel the same way and are trying to manage their stress.  Keep going.  It will get better!  The pandemic will end eventually.  We will get to a new normal again.  Hang in there!