(Published 2024 November)
For many families, Thanksgiving is a time to get together with loved ones and celebrate that for which we’re grateful. But it can also elevate stress, heighten loneliness, and worsen existing mental health issues.
Though women are disproportionately stressed by Thanksgiving (44% of women report higher stress levels over the holidays, compared with just 31 percent of men), they aren’t the only ones. People occupying marginalized identities may not be out to family yet--or feel the need to re-closet themselves around unaccepting family members. Immigrants may feel pressure to assimilate to American traditions. And some folks may be navigating financial burdens but feeling compelled to empty their pockets on the trappings of the holiday.
No worries. You can manage holiday stress through self-care.
- Make a plan. Having a plan of action can help when it comes to maintaining your mental health through the holidays. You might think you’ll be able to stay cool in a heated moment, but that’s often when we are least able to manage our emotions. Ask yourself: What is too much for you? What is the point at which I will need to pull away and take a break? Formulate the answers to these questions before the holiday arrives.
- Set boundaries. It can be intimidating to establish boundaries with family, especially over contentious issues. But it’s important to honor your values, so give yourself permission to set a boundary before the controversy gets started. Don’t think of a boundary as saying “no” to a loved one; reframe it as saying “yes” to yourself.
- Reset expectations. Life rarely goes according to schedule. So, don’t set yourself up for failure by thinking you’ll have the perfect Thanksgiving. Even if you can’t control a situation, you can control your response to it.
These efforts may seem small, but they are important. Three intentional acts to protect your sanity during the holiday season add up.
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