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The holiday season, often brimming with joy and celebrations, can paradoxically introduce a unique set of stressors for people. This supposed season of cheer is also when stress and depression tend to spike, primarily due to the pressure associated with creating and experiencing joyful holidays. Surprisingly, 38% of individuals have reported feeling more stressed during the holidays, and a significant 64% mentioned that their mental health issues were exacerbated during the festive season.

Understanding and effectively managing this festive stress is crucial for maintaining mental well-being and setting a positive tone for the year ahead. Here, we will explore practical strategies to help you navigate these challenges in your professional and personal life. With the support of tools like ThoughtFull's innovative mental health solutions, you can take the holiday season in stride.

Unwrapping Festive Stress: Tackling High Expectations and Perfectionism

During the festive period, the pressure to meet high expectations and perfectionism from friends and family can significantly impact mental health. Psychological studies show that unrealistic expectations can lead to increased stress and disappointment. 

Striving for holiday perfection can result in significant stress, dissatisfaction, and frustration, especially when festive plans don't unfold as planned. Perfectionists often exert extra effort in every aspect of holiday preparation, trying to please others more than themselves. This approach can transform the lead-up to Christmas into a period marked by excessive demands and busyness, detracting from the joy of the season.

To combat these, set realistic goals and create an environment that values effort over perfection. Doing this can mitigate these pressures, not just for yourself but for those around you, too.

Strategies to Deck the Halls Stress-Free

To effectively manage holiday stress, you need to have specific, actionable strategies in place:

1. Practice Time Management: Effective time management reduces stress and enhances productivity. After all, improved time management leads to reduced stress levels​​. As deadlines approach, anxiety levels can rise, especially without a clear plan. 44% of workers cope with stress daily, an all-time high, highlighting the importance of good time management​​. Planning your schedules and balancing professional and personal time can significantly alleviate stress during the festive season.
2. Open Communication: Open communication is crucial in creating a less stressful work environment. By fostering a culture where employees feel comfortable discussing their workload and stress, organisations can effectively mitigate the negative impacts of workplace stress. Regular check-ins, team meetings, and anonymous feedback systems can be implemented to facilitate open communication, especially during the holidays.
3. Utilise ThoughtFullChat App: The ThoughtFullChat app offers a modern solution to managing workplace stress. This app provides accessible and affordable mental health support, making it easier for employees to seek professional guidance and manage stress effectively. Digital tools such as ThoughtFullChat offer convenience and privacy, encouraging more employees to manage their stress and wellbeing proactively.

Make Time For You

During the holidays, gatherings, special projects, and parties are aplenty. On top of the usual hustle and bustle, festivities around every corner may overwhelm you. Here’s your reminder to carve out some personal time that will help you recharge and focus on enjoying your holiday season however you want. It’s absolutely okay to say no if it means you get to take care of yourself. Remember to set boundaries and remember the real essence of the season before getting caught up in the glitter and glamour. 

Self-Care: Your Best Gift This Holiday Season

Self-care is essential, particularly amidst the social, familial, and financial pressures of the holidays. Neglecting self-care can lead to burnout, depression, anxiety, and a range of other negative implications. Clinically, self-care routines have been proven to reduce anxiety and depression, stress, improve concentration, and increase happiness and energy​​.

Develop a personalised self-care routine, as what works for someone else might not work for you. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration suggests considering eight dimensions of wellness for a comprehensive self-care plan: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual​​. Even short, 5-minute self-care activities can significantly enhance overall health and wellbeing. The ThoughtFullChat app can be valuable in guiding employees through various self-care practices and helping them find what best suits their needs.

Self-care can also come from planning and setting your intentions for the coming year. Goal setting is particularly effective when goals are challenging, set publicly, and are group-oriented. Goals set in this manner are more likely to be successful, especially when paired with external monitoring without feedback and delivered face-to-face.

Combating Holiday Stress with ThoughtFull

Navigating the festive season stress in the workplace and your personal life requires a proactive approach, setting realistic expectations, fostering open communication, and promoting self-care. ThoughtFull, through its ThoughtFullChat app and educational initiatives, plays a crucial role in making mental health support accessible and empowering organisations to support their employees' well-being. By adopting these strategies, employees can not only survive but thrive during the festive season, setting a positive tone for the year ahead.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Thoughtfull. 

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