Monday Campaigns: Take Steps Now to Destress the Winter Holiday Season

As the winter holiday season unfolds, NOVA Office of Employee Wellness and Wellbeing (OEWW) recognizes and honors the beautiful diversity of our employee community. Not all of us celebrate the same holidays, and even within shared celebrations, our traditions and approaches vary widely. This rich tapestry is what makes our community so vibrant and unique! A commonality is that this is a time filled with joy, family, and…well, let’s be honest, sometimes a whole lot of stress. During this month, the OEWW and our wellness partners are focused on supporting your wellbeing during what can be a complex and challenging time of year.

The holiday season often brings an overwhelming number of tasks and expectations. From traveling and shopping to entertaining and managing family dynamics, stress can easily overshadow the joy of the season. Thankfully, December is National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month, a reminder to pause, prioritize well-being and embrace the true spirit of the holidays.

Let’s explore a few practical strategies to support mental health and personal well-being, no matter how you choose to celebrate. By incorporating just a few simple practices, you can navigate the season with calm and grace, keeping the focus on joy and connection.

Understanding Holiday Stress and Grief
The holiday season can be a bittersweet time for many. While it’s a period of joy and celebration for some, it can also be a time of loss, grief, and loneliness for others. The pressures of travel, gift-giving, family dynamics, financial constraints, work commitments and personal expectations can compound these feelings.

If you’re struggling with grief or loss during the holidays, please know that you’re not alone. It’s important to be kind to yourself and seek support when needed. Consider reaching out to a mental health professional or trusted friend.

Let’s all be mindful of the diverse experiences of those around us and offer support and understanding.

Centering Your Focus on What Matters:

• Stop and appreciate: Take time to savor the sights, sounds and smells of the season. Don’t let the to-do list steal the joy from the present moment.
• Acknowledge your feelings: It’s okay to feel sad or overwhelmed. Acknowledge past experiences, but maintain a positive outlook.
• Seek support: Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family, friends or colleagues. Please consider revisiting Managing Your Mental Health During Challenging Times. Review available resources to support you and others before stress becomes overwhelming.
• Shift from “Perfect Gift” to Perfect Moment: Shift the focus from creating perfect holidays to cherishing meaningful connections. Sometimes, the best memories come from simple gestures: heartfelt conversations, shared laughter and moments of gratitude. Remember all those nuggets on glimmers and micro-moments from last month’s series on gratitude. 

This Monday’s Tip: Take Steps Now to Destress this Winter Holiday Season

Don’t wait until the last minute! Here are some ways to proactively manage stress and plan for a joyful holiday season:

1. Create a Realistic Plan: List your must-do tasks and optional activities. Be willing to let go of non-essential items.
2. Delegate Tasks: Share responsibilities with family and friends.
3. Budget Wisely: Set a spending limit and stick to it. Remember, meaningful connections matter more than expensive gifts.
4. Schedule Self-Care: Block out time for rest, exercise and activities that recharge you. 
5. Practice Saying No: It’s okay to decline invitations or requests that will overwhelm you.
6. Connect Authentically: Prioritize quality interactions over quantity.
7. Maintain Healthy Habits: Eating well, exercising regularly, spending time in nature and getting enough sleep are essential for managing stress. These physical wellness strategies still apply on this side of Thanksgiving. Get Moving This Monday: A Pre-Thanksgiving Boost for Your Health.
8. Bonus Tip: Revisit the 2023 Daily Flyer article for many still relevant ideas. Dec. Is National Stress-Free Holiday Month.

These tips align with The Healthy Monday Holiday Guide, Tips to Fend Off Holiday Stress from the Mayo Clinic, and with advice from wellness expert Beverly Beuermann-King, who emphasizes the importance of planning, simplifying and focusing on meaningful interactions over materialistic perfection.

Remember: The holidays are about connection, appreciation and personal well-being. By taking charge and planning ahead, you can have a stress-free and joyous holiday season filled with cherished memories. Be kind to yourself and others. Refer to the Stress Free Holiday Season infographic for quick reminders on the importance of mindfulness practices, well-being strategies, support systems, personal reflection and meaningful connections to proactively safeguard your well-being throughout this season.

Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season from the OEWW Team!

Submitted By:
Dahlia Henry-Tett, Chief Wellness Officer, employeewellbeing@nvcc.edu