The holidays are often a time of celebration and joy, but for many people, they are also stressful. If your anxiety levels are on the rise this December, you’re not alone.
Nearly half (41%) of U.S. adults say their stress increases this time of year, according to the agency American Psychological Association. “I think it’s worth taking comfort that you’re not the only one feeling stressed out,” happiness experts say. Jessica Weiss.
Weiss has spent more than a decade giving lectures and workshops on happiness at work, including theHappiness: It’s an inside job“Here are her tips on how to improve your mood this season.
1. Maintain social relationships
For Weiss, when you’re stressed, “the most important thing is to stay socially connected,” she says. Specifically, try to have “little moments of connection.”
These can be done with family and friends and don’t have to be too long. “I spoke for about 10 minutes,” she said. Ideally, they happen in person, but if it has to be over the phone or text, that’s okay. Try to have at least two connections a day.
“Even brief positive interactions can increase happiness and reduce stress,” she says.
2. Maintain a regular routine
Second, regardless of the slew of seasonal activities that the holidays bring, “maintain your normal routine,” she says.
For Weiss, it’s exercise, but “maybe your daily ritual is reading for half an hour in the morning,” she says. “Maybe your routine is to do breath work before you start your day. Maybe your routine is to take a hot bath and relax.”
It is especially important to continue doing anything that can reduce stress. It “makes everything feel more normal,” she said.
3. Say “no” when you need to
Finally, schedules can easily fill up this time of year, but you don’t have to say “yes” to every invitation. “Say no to anything that burns you out,” Weiss said.
“Some things are essential, right?” She said, maybe a family gathering, for example. But, she added, “Those things that don’t matter are the things you can say no to, and the litmus test is, if I say ‘no’ to those things, what’s the worst thing that could happen?”
If you realize there won’t be a significant impact, then you have an opportunity to say “no” and take your time back.
Ultimately, Weiss believes that “sometimes less celebration means more joy.”
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