Holidays bring stress, even though the goal is a fun and festive time. There’s a lot of buildup for any holiday, making it tough for the day to live up to the hype.

Acknowledge the special day but recognize that it’s another day. Not everything will be thrilling. There will still be frustrations and disappointment. Reduce expectations so the day doesn’t fall short.

Mental Health Tips:
-Get adequate sleep to arm yourself for the holiday excitement. Sleep supports mental health.
-Exercise. Intense exercise is a great stress buster, even if you do it in four-minute blocks.
-Eat well. Consume a reasonable amount of fresh food. Make a decision about what you’ll eat before the food is in front of you.
-Set a budget for gifts. It’s better to give things that are memorable than to give filler presents. Give presents that will make a difference for the recipient.

Listen as Dr. David Hill joins Melanie Cole, MS to discuss mental health tips for the holidays in this episode from December 2019.