How to cope with the stress and anxiety of Christmas time

Many people experience a lot of stress and anxiety during Christmas.

There is the pressure to have fun and socialise, be with family and friends, and spend money on presents and travel that comes with the holiday season.

During the holidays, you can end up feeling unaccomplished and dissatisfied with your life. You may review your year and feel like it didn’t live up to your expectations.

You might even find time with family unnecessarily stressful and confrontational or feel lonely because you are dealing with the death or loss of a loved one.

So, how do you cope with the financial and emotional stress that comes with the holidays?

Be realistic with yourself

How much do you really have to spend? Look at your account balance, what can your finances do for your loved ones this season?

Can you afford to travel? Being realistic helps you to put everything in perspective.

Do you have confrontational or troublesome family members? Then set your mind on the fact that they may trouble you during the season.

Do not feel pressure to go out and spend money when you do not have it.

Get some alone time

With the frequent outings and family gatherings, you might feel overwhelmed with too much company. Find time to be separate from your family and be by yourself.

Be grateful

You have to learn how to practice gratitude even when things do not go your way. Even in tough times, there are still things to be grateful for.

Do not exceed your budget

How much do you want to spend during the holidays? Be ruthless about the execution and make sure you do not exceed it.

It's okay if you are spending Christmas alone

Loneliness might increase during this period because many others spend it with their loved ones.

Perhaps you cannot spend it with your loved ones. Refuse the pressure to sink into the mire of pitying yourself. Christmas can just be an ordinary day for you if you want it to be.