Holidays+Stress=?

It's already November and that means the holidays are fast upon us. For some, this elicits joy at the thought of celebrating with family again. For others, it may elicit anxiety as you have to cook, buy gifts and maybe host. Either way, the following tips for managing the holidays and the stress are perfect for anyone. 

“The holiday season often brings unwelcome guests — stress and depression. And it's no wonder. The holidays often present a dizzying array of demands — cooking meals, shopping, baking, cleaning and entertaining, to name just a few” — Mayo Clinic Staff, Mayo Clinic. Now add that there is still a pandemic going on and your stress level may already be heightened. The first thing you want to do is acknowledge what you’re feeling and let yourself know that is all right to feel this way. Second, you want to make a game plan for all you need to do. I have already planned when I will shop for gifts when I’ll make my contribution to Thanksgiving (we go to friends), and I have already given out assignments for the pot-luck festive meal for the first night of Chanukah at my house (now I just need to remember to get the brisket recipe from my mom). And lastly, make sure that you take time for yourself — get your nails done, spend time reading, take walks, etc. It is important amidst all the holiday hubbub to take a breather and decompress.

While planning meals, visiting relatives and gift buying are stressful in themselves, these all can trigger financial stress. How are you going to pay for the gifts? Can you afford to fly to visit relatives? How much will the holiday meal cost? “For 2020, Americans, on average, expect to spend $998 on gifts, holiday items, and other expenses during the holiday season, down $50 from 2019.” — Investopedia The number has been steadily growing since 2010 and hovers around $1000. At the New York rate of $15 per hour minimum wage, a person would need to work 66+ hours to make $1000. At a 40-hour workweek, that is almost two weeks and almost an entire paycheck (if paid every two weeks). Wow! This makes me wonder why Christmas clubs, a special savings account that banks offered to save up for the holidays have disappeared. One would need to put away $20 a week, to reach $1000 to cover holiday expenses and this can be a stretch for some families where more than half of the take-home pay goes to housing and food.

While we’re talking about money, let’s talk gifts. My great-uncle believed in the gift of green (he learned this from his mother), so we got checks every year and used them to buy what we wanted. Since finding the perfect gift can be stressful, here are some ideas that may alleviate the stress…

1.    Donate in the person’s honor at a charity he/she supports

2.    Suggest going out for a meal

3.    Plan an outing to do together — Broadway show, museum exhibit, a cooking class, etc.

4.    Get a gift card to their favorite store

5.    Or in my mother’s case, ask what he/she want and get it for the person

Whether the holidays elicit joy (as in my case) or dread, the key thing is to remember is to give yourself the gift of self-love, self-care, and patience. And in the case of my late father, who tried one year to grill the turkey and didn’t succeed, laugh about it (and other mistakes) for years to come.

If you like what you read or not, please leave a comment or feedback. If you are reading this and are not on my mailing list, you can join by clicking here..