Does the holiday season put pressure on you? Whether you’re feeling stressed, lonely, or tired -- you’re not alone.
Work, college, time with friends, time with significant others, and time with immediate and extended family are just a few of the priorities competing for our energy around the holidays. Feeling overwhelmed is only natural.
Mental health and stress management are the best gifts you can give yourself to help beat anxiety and keep the priorities in your life straight, from college coursework to gift shopping. In this article, we’ll explore the factors that impact your mental health and solutions to help you optimize it for the holidays.
Christmas Anxiety
Christmas anxiety is the feeling of dread or fear that some people experience in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It's usually caused by a combination of factors, including unrealistic expectations, pressure to spend money, expectations about family time, and the general stress of the holidays.
The holiday season can complicate people’s lives with all that’s going on, sometimes to the point of depression or anxiety. This phenomenon has been called the holiday blues.
A holiday mental health survey, conducted by the US’ National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), found that 24% of about 300 diagnosed persons said the holidays made their mental illnesses “a lot worse,” while 40% said “somewhat worse.”
In a broader survey of the population, conducted with participants of varying states of mental health, it was clear that the holidays contributed to feeling sad or dissatisfied, and:
- 63% said there was too much pressure
- 57% said there were unrealistic expectations
- 68% said they felt financially strained
Mental Health Challenges Around the Holidays
Holiday blues aren’t the same as clinical depression; they can get to everyone. But when combined with other factors, holiday blues can contribute to mental illnesses like anxiety and clinical depression. But it’s important for your mental health to view them as challenges rather than threats.
There are a lot of factors that come together to impact your mental health over the holidays. In December and January especially, mental health challenges include:
- Lingering Holiday Blues
- Post-Holiday Blues
- Seasonal Affective Disorder
For students, the above mental health challenges of the holidays can interact with other challenges in life. In addition to part-time (sometimes full-time) work, family obligations, parenthood, and financial needs—there are demands on your time beyond studying and coursework.
That’s why it’s especially important for students to manage these challenges and prioritize mental health before, during, and after the holidays.
5 Holiday Mental Health Tips For Students
When it comes to mental health, achieving balance is key — especially during high-stress times. In a lot of cases, you don’t need to completely overhaul your life — sometimes, it’s just about making a few key shifts. So, we’ve collected five simple tips to help maintain your mental health throughout the holiday season:
1. Keep up with your studies throughout the holidays, even if it’s just the minimum to get the grade you’re aiming for.
You can lower your commitment to work and school temporarily but you can’t forget about them. If you need the time, perhaps take a few days off from work and choose to complete key assignments ahead of time.
2. Budget time intentionally.
Make a priority list of the closest people to you and make plans with them for the free time you have; whoever is most important, make sure you coordinate with them earlier in the month. If your friends are closest to you, make what time you can with them but understand they could be busy with family too. Bottom line, communicate and coordinate early, with good cheer and understanding.
3. The holidays are about celebration of the things that make us human.
Spread positive emotions, especially when you deal with others during this time. If you’re yelling at cashiers because you’re behind schedule on gift shopping, you’re not helping anyone’s mental health.
4. Take some time out of a hectic schedule to reflect on your values.
What are the values of the holiday you’re celebrating this year? How can they improve your life if you embrace them more?
5. Do good things for others.
It has been proven that doing kind things for others brings us more happiness than pleasure-seeking activities. We suggest volunteering with a local community organization, buying a coffee for the person behind you in the drive-thru or just smiling at a stranger.
CHRISTMAS IS OVER - WHAT NOW?
Just because Christmas–or whatever holiday you celebrate–has come to a close, doesn’t mean that the potential mental health impacts are over. When you’re coming down from that holiday high, and entering the coldest part of winter, it’s important to be mindful of the season as a whole.
BONUS TIP! After the holidays, especially New Year’s, you may want to spend some time focusing on your future:
- What can you do now to improve your life?
- What’s the job market look like in the career you’ve chosen?
- Are you still passionate about it?
Get Your Career Back on Track
Your career is something that can improve your mental health if you approach it the right way. Making improvements on your career path, even small ones, can support your mental health overall.
Job satisfaction is incredibly important to your mental health, and it may surprise you to learn that job satisfaction is important to your physical health as well. The key is to choose the type of work that satisfies you.
A sense of purpose can channel all the positivity you’ve been fostering during the holidays and make it useful to you. If you feel more in control of your life and your future, Christmas anxiety or the post-holiday blues can’t take as much hold over you.
Sundance College’s Mental Health & Career Path Supports
The first step in keeping your mental health optimal is by practicing the mental health tips above. The second step, especially after the holidays, is to plan for your future Sundance College programs provide career options that give students a sense of purpose and control over their destinies.
Choose from a variety of business and legal, health and social services, and tech - and learn how to achieve practicum success. Get started on your career path early in the year and be launched in your new career before the next holiday cycle comes around.
Seasonal affective disorder and other holiday triggers for anxiety and depression are best handled when they’re understood as challenges. Sundance College students have access to mental health support and resources 24/7/365. If you are a current student, please don’t hesitate to reach out for all available student resources and good luck with your holiday plans!
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