Mental Health and Money Woes Over the Holidays
No wonder suicide rates go up over the holidays —with all the spending and the stress, it’s not hard to understand how some people could find it difficult to cope. Sadly, money and mental health go hand-in-hand and this is never more obvious than around the holidays.
What Makes the Holidays So Hard on Our Minds and Pocketbooks?
Though the holidays are supposed to be about love and spreading goodwill, somewhere along the way this time of year has somehow managed to become something different. These days you can’t help but feel pressure to make the holidays something grand, including the presents that you give— frequently even if you can afford them or not.
Not to mention the pressure to host the grandest party, have the best decorations, and give the best presents. And, since all these things cost money, it won’t be long until you begin to feel the strain and end up spending money unnecessarily. This not only causes serious anxiety over the holidays; it also carries well into the New Year when you’re face-to-face with all of the bills you’ve racked up trying to live up to ambitious expectations.
All of this stress leads to sleeping issues, anxiety, and an assortment of physical symptoms. That’s right – your mental health isn’t the only thing which takes a hit as stress also wreaks havoc on your immune system making you vulnerable to the flu, colds, and much more.
How to Deal
The most important thing that we all need to start doing is remembering that the holidays are about spending time with loved ones and recognizing all that we have. By doing this, you can move away from those expectations that you put on yourself to make the holidays about anything else.
As true as it is, this may be easier said than done when you have presents coming at you which makes you feel you need to match, or even do better. Or when you’re surrounded with the media showing you their grandiose version of what the holidays should be like. But it’s not that impossible. Speak to your family and friends about wanting to make this holiday season about focusing on the simple things, and enjoying time with one another. You might be surprised with how many others are feeling the same stress that you are.
Here are some suggestions to help keep your money and your sanity in check:
- Suggest doing a Secret Santa exchange so that everyone still gets to enjoy a gift while saving money.
- Host a potluck party to keep your work and your expense to a minimum.
- Give what you can afford pertaining to presents instead of feeling like you have to give better presents than what others give. People really will appreciate it just the same!
- Set a budget for your holiday spending. Include everything from food to entertaining costs and presents … and don’t go over the set amount. Shopping with a list will help you keep costs lower and help you to avoid any impulse purchases.
- Leave debit and credit cards at home and shop with cash only so you can keep track of exactly what you’re spending.
- To help keep from feeling overwhelmed, set aside time for yourself over the holidays.
You can make the holidays less stressful by following the above tips and by truly focusing on what this season is really all about.
