Mental Health Minute: Managing Holiday stress

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — As the “Charlie Brown Christmas” song goes, “Christmastime is here,” and while this is supposed to be a time of joy, it can also be a time of stress.

In this week’s Mental Health Minute, we discuss managing these feelings with an expert.

If last-minute shopping or finalizing family plans has you pulling your hair out this week, you aren’t alone.

The American Psychological Association found that nine in 10 U.S. adults are stressed this time of year.

“What I can say is most helpful I think is just take some deep breaths and really spend a few minutes to find a quiet place before you do that and really focus on who you are and what you’re feeling,” said Laura Stewart, Employee Well-Being Program Manager at St. Luke’s.

Stewart said taking that moment to collect yourself can make a big difference.

“I think it’s important to call out that even a couple of minutes of deep breathing has scientifically been proven to reduce your stress,” Stewart said.

The holidays are often a time for family. Still, not everyone has a great relationship with them, leading to tense or awkward situations.

Stewart advised not to let your emotions get in the way and to take a different approach.

“If we can step back for a moment and really honor that other person’s opinion, even if it’s very different from yourself and listen calmly and ask questions in a curious manner that can do a lot to diffuse tension in a family situation,” Stewart.

And while plenty of things stress us out this time of year, there are also opportunities to reduce those feelings.

Stewart said that honing in on these things is key to having a happy holiday.

“If we can focus on maybe just one or two activities or something that you enjoy doing with your family and friends and be in the moment while that is happening,” Stewart said. “That can be so much greater joy out of all of that and you’re creating those lasting memories which are the whole point of the season.”

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