The Most Stressful Time of the Year

I hosted a Halloween party over the weekend and had to grab some last minute items for it on Saturday. While shopping, I saw Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas decorations all together. Whether this frustrates you or not, the push for Christmas begins earlier each year. It used to kick off the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) when I was younger, but nowadays, holiday preparations start before Halloween has even wrapped up.

We don’t realize how stressful the last few months of the year are. Kids and educators embark on a new school year, and extracurricular activities and sports resume, filling up our schedules. We have to prepare ourselves and our family for Halloween activities and make plans for Thanksgiving. After all that, we jump into the overwhelm of the holiday season. We do all this while managing the final quarter of work.

I’m one of those people who love the holiday season, and I get excited about it earlier than most people I know. However, as much as I love that joy, I also realize it can be hard on our mental health. Stress is a primary reason why our mental health may suffer during the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year. “ For weeks, people are in the go-go-go mode. We have to shop for our family, friends, and coworkers in crowded and overstimulating places. If we opt for online shopping, there’s the worry that it will arrive on time. Side note: I grew up with a courier father, and the “Christmas rush” demands impact the whole family. People also often feel pressured to attend gatherings with others they may not get along with. It's hard whether it’s that annoying coworker or a toxic family member.

The holidays are a nostalgic time. Music and movies flood our minds with memories. We think about the old times, perhaps with loved ones who aren’t here. Many people dread the holiday season because it is challenging to talk about the hard feelings since it’s supposed to be joyous. Although missing loved ones causes us pain throughout the year, it tends to be more intense around the holidays.

Loneliness. is also a struggle for people during the holidays. Hallmark and Lifetime movies exemplify “storybook-perfect families.” However, that only feels like a dream for some people. This part of life tends to be more challenging to process around the holidays. People may feel down, depressed, hopeless, or experience FOMO when they aren’t part of gatherings. Some people may not be lonely but have another situation that causes them to feel isolated from society’s expectations. This can be a different family dynamic, strained financial situation, or illness. This is why building a kinder, more inclusive world is important so everyone can enjoy the season.

This is only the beginning, so it’s good to prepare now. I will write a lot about this during this season so we can all stay on track together. Whatever holiday you celebrate, we all want to enjoy it the best we can! I hope everyone enjoys Halloween and smoothly transitions into the next month!