In this episode, Coach Elix discusses the stress and anxiety people feel around the holiday season. There are probably all sorts of things that make you feel overwhelmed when thinking about the holidays. You are not alone. In fact, 45% of people in the United States would rather skip Christmas altogether. Tune in to find out why you feel stressed around Christmas and how to achieve a stress-free holiday season. 

“Money doesn’t bring happiness. Happiness will bring you money”

Timestamps: 

[01:10] Episode overview and life updates: holiday anxiety during COVID

[11:55] Statistics around nationwide holiday anxiety in the U.S.

[14:12] Being stressed by the pressure to give during the holiday season

[18:20] Why is stress around Christmas such a widespread problem?

[25:42] Travel-related stress during Christmas 

[27:33] Fear of overeating during the holiday season  

[28:12] Dealing with family expectations during the holiday season 

[29:35] First Christmas after the death of a loved one or after a divorce

[31:40] Managing mental illness in high-stress times such as the holidays

[35:09] 9 actionable tips to cope with holiday anxiety and loneliness

5 Key Takeaways: 

Nearly 45% of people in the US report that they would rather skip Christmas. 70% of those people in the U.S. report feeling a lack of time around the holiday season. 69% of people who would prefer to skip Christmas are stressed by being perceived to have a lack of money around the holiday season. (These statistics are pre-COVID.)

Some of the reasons people feel more stressed around the holiday season are: being afraid of being judged from a financial perspective, putting off holiday giving to the last minute, strained family obligations, and not having enough time to do holiday shopping.

The holiday season is about having fun. Worrying too much about your family’s expectations or how people will perceive you takes the joy out of the holidays. We have to recenter and remember that the holiday spirit is, first and foremost, about being together. Pro tip: some of the best presents are presents that come from the heart.

Anxiety around the holiday season is amplified for people who are experiencing mental illness.

A few tips to help you cope with holiday stress: If you feel lonely or stressed during the holiday season, reach out to people or groups who can support you. Remember that holidays don’t have to be perfect. You can honor traditions in many different ways. Try your best to put aside pent-up resentment. At the same time, learn to say “no.” Know what your boundaries and budgets are.

 

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Get a G.R.I.P. with Coach Elix airs live on WARA 1320AM out of Attleboro, MA every Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern. To listen live or be a caller, stream the show from anywhere in the world by visiting www.wararadio.com.