Struggling with Holiday Spirit? Discover 8 Strategies to Overcome Negativity and Embrace Joy

Struggling with the festive spirit? Discover 8 Strategies to Overcome Holiday Stress and Uncover Happiness

The holiday season, often hyped up as the most wonderful time of the year, can be a source of stress, sadness, and grief for some. However, it doesn't have to be that way. Creating new traditions and setting boundaries can help rewrite the holiday narrative and make the season more enjoyable.

For many, the feelings of disliking holidays stem from past traumas or unpleasant experiences. But it's important to remember that the holidays are temporary, just another day on the calendar. Accepting how one feels during the holidays can relieve pressure, guilt, or shame associated with not feeling merry and jolly.

Setting boundaries is crucial in ensuring personal comfort during the holiday season. This includes deciding what one can and cannot do, and sticking to those decisions. If unable to physically be with loved ones, setting up a phone or video call can help in connecting with them.

If dealing with grief, coming up with traditions to celebrate your loved one's life can be a healing way to honour their memory. Spending time with people who make one smile, laugh, and feel loved can help during the holidays. Treating oneself with genuine kindness and caring can also help during difficult times.

Potential triggers for holiday-related distress include poor relationships with family, uncomfortable social situations, dissatisfaction with current life, anxiety about questions, and unresolved past issues. Identifying these triggers is the first step to beginning healing and creating happier holiday memories. Bringing along a support person can help one feel more comfortable in holiday environments.

Seeking support from loved ones or mental health professionals can help in identifying reasons for feeling this way and learning ways to cope. Studies suggest that suicide rates are higher during certain holidays like New Year's Day compared to other days of the year, highlighting the importance of reaching out for help.

It's also worth noting that the holidays might not be acknowledged in the same way in other countries, which can help take some of the pressure off. Remember, it's okay to do things differently and make the holidays your own.

The authors Lina Schwenk, Kathrin Bach, Lena Schätte, Fiona Sironic, Peter Wawerzinek, Christine Wunnicke, and Feridun Zaimoglu, among others, have written extensively on the topic of holidays and mental health. However, their workplaces are not specified in the search results. The jury members of the German Book Prize 2025 include Laura de Weck, Maria Carolina Foi, Jürgen Kaube, Friedhelm Marx, Kathrin Matern, Lara Sielmann, and Shirin Sojitrawalla. Ruth Weiss, a German economic journalist and writer, also touched upon the topic in her work.

Self-care activities such as taking a bath, cleaning one's space, reading a book, doing yoga, spending time in nature, logging off social media, cooking or baking, and meditating can help in taking care of oneself during the holiday season. By following these tips, we hope that the holiday season can become a time of joy and relaxation for everyone.