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Holiday Stress: How to Keep Calm and Create Space for Peace

December 5, 2025  |  Emotional wellbeing, holidays, mental health, Stress
angel ornament on a Christmas tree

The holidays are meant to be a time for fun and celebration with friends and family. But along with all the sparkle and festivities, this time of year can bring packed schedules, financial and relationship stress, and the pressure to make everything perfect.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re certainly not alone. Nearly 9 in 10 adults report experiencing holiday-related stress. The good news? You can take steps to prevent stress and protect your peace.

Here are a few simple ways to support your mental health throughout the holidays:

#1: Set Boundaries
The holidays are a time for gatherings galore. If you’re feeling overloaded with obligations, remember that you don’t have to say “yes” to everything. Setting clear boundaries is a way of protecting your peace and ensuring you have enough time to enjoy the holidays your way.

#2: Prioritize Self-Care
In the midst of the holiday rush, it can feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to take care of you. Making self-care a priority means carving out that time with intention.

During the holidays, moments of self-care can look like:

●      Taking a quick walk

●      Enjoying a warm drink

●      Listening to relaxing music

●      Closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths

●      Watching a comfort movie

#3: Maintain Healthy Habits
One reason the holidays can feel stressful is because our typical routines are disrupted. To protect your peace, try to keep some of your daily habits on track, such as:

●      Get enough sleep — set a bedtime and wake-up time! 

●      Eat nutritious meals to keep your body fueled. 

●      Incorporate movement into your day, like a short walk, a living room dance party, or even a quick stretch.

●      Stay hydrated — it’s easy to forget to drink enough water in the winter.

#4: Embrace Imperfections
The holidays can also bring a lot of pressure to make things “perfect,” from gift-giving to decorating to hosting family. It’s important to remember that real life isn’t like a holiday movie. It’s messy and imperfect, and that’s a good thing!

This holiday season, give yourself grace when things inevitably don’t do as planned. That could also mean giving yourself permission to:

●      Buy cookies from the store instead of making your own

●      Simplify (or let go) of certain holiday traditions

●      Let the house get a little messy

●      Find the humor in the moments that don’t go as planned — you’re making memories!

●      Unfollow social media accounts that make you feel jealous or unworthy

#5: Practice Kindness
From disgruntled shoppers to traffic jams and crowded stores, this time of year can bring extra frustrations. Throughout all the hustle and bustle, it’s important to practice kindness with yourself and others.

You may not be able to control how other people behave during the stress of the season, but you can control how you respond. When you encounter a frustrating situation, take a few deep breaths. And remember, everyone is dealing with the holidays differently. A little kindness goes a long way!

Here for You, All Season Long
If the holidays are difficult for you, Mental Health Recovery Board Serving Warren & Clinton Counties is your starting point for help and hope. We work with local provider agencies to ensure residents of Warren and Clinton counties have access to quality, supportive services close to home. To learn more and get connected to local resources and support, please contact us today.

Need help now? Call or text 988 for free, confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.