How stress can show up during the holidays
Stress can show up in different ways. In the short term, it might feel like tension, feeling irritable, worry or dread.
Over time, it can affect your mental health and make existing conditions harder to manage. Physical symptoms like headaches, poor sleep, and fatigue are common too.
Why Christmas and New Year can feel extra hard
The holidays can bring extra stress from money worries, juggling work, family and social events, and navigating tricky relationships or family conflicts.
There’s the gift shopping, work deadlines, school events, family catchups, planning meals, organising travel, and getting ready for New Year’s – it can feel like a lot. This time of year can also bring challenges like family tensions, money worries, social expectations, hosting duties, alcohol, and travel.
Feeling like you have to say yes to everything can be tiring. The pressure to live up to other people’s experiences, especially on social media, and reflecting on the year that’s passed can also affect your mental wellbeing.
What if the stress doesn’t go away after Christmas?
Festive season stress usually passes once the season is over and you’ve had a chance to rest and recover. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, low in mood, or just not feeling yourself for more than a couple of weeks, we suggest you chat with your GP or contact Beyond Blue.
You could also try the K10 anxiety and depression test. It’s a series of 10 questions that you can do online and will point you in the right direction for support.
Let’s take a closer look at what can make Christmas tricky
Start off the season with a wellbeing plan
Coping with festive stress can be easier if you continue to do the small but meaningful actions that work for your wellbeing, like listening to your favourite songs or going for walks during the week.
If you’d like help putting this into practice, take a look at our Wellbeing Action Tool.
How festive stress can affect you
Stress during the holidays can show up in different ways. For some, it’s a tough week before Christmas. For others, it lasts through the whole season.
In the short term, end-of-year can bring up feelings of worry, anxiety, anticipation, and dread. These can add to stress or make it harder to cope.
In the long term, stress can affect your mental health and wellbeing and make existing conditions harder to manage.
It can also show up physically. Headaches, trouble sleeping and feeling worn out are common signs of festive stress.
How to manage stress leading up to (and during) the festive season
If the end of year is causing you more stress and worry and having a negative impact on your mental health, some of the following tips may help:
Try practicing mindfulness or relaxation techniques, such as meditation or breathing exercises. You can do these when you’re stressed or in preparation for feeling stressed. You can do these things in preparation or find moments during festivities.
Schedule in ‘self-care’. Time alone matters. Exercising, reading, watching TV, or simply unwinding and doing nothing – are great ways to recharge.
Simplify your to-do list. Being with loved ones is more important than rushing around to buy the most expensive presents or organising back-to-back activities.
Remember what’s meaningful to you and focus on gratitude. Take a moment to be thankful for what you do have.
Find support for a calmer Christmas
Speak to someone at Lifeline
Lifeline’s crisis support is available 24/7.
Contact our Beyond Blue counsellors
Call us on 1300 22 4636 or chat online with a counsellor.
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