Although some people like the sights and sounds of the holiday, others find that December is a constant source of stress. Although between work, family life, buying gifts, decorating houses, hosting family and friends, and ongoing epidemics, this may be a time to promote unity and goodwill, it is not surprising that many of us are before Christmas It's easy to feel overwhelmed. 

According to a recent survey, 53% of Canadians said they felt more emotional stress about the upcoming vacation than in previous years, while 41% said they felt unprecedented financial stress. 

Because many of us are anxious, Aaryn Secker, director of education and training at the British Columbia branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, said it’s important to take time to refocus on what really matters. 

"One of the key parts is to make sure we understand our values ​​and what the holidays mean to us, what is important to us during the holidays," Seckel told Yahoo Canada. "Doing so can help us manage our expectations,"

As we prepare for another vacation, please keep the following tips in mind.

Although many people feel overwhelmed by checking the to-do list before the holidays, dragging everything to the last minute can increase stress.

Sending out your Christmas cards in advance or starting baking, holiday shopping and gift wrapping early can help reduce the stress before the holidays. 

Holidays can be particularly stressful financially. Setting a budget for everyone on the holiday shopping list, or asking for a cap on gifts for family and friends, can help reduce the pressure of overspending. 

Limiting gifts to children in the family or choosing to make gifts for family and friends can help you keep your budget this year. Let those DIY juices flow, make your own holiday cards, or make a box of homemade snacks for loved ones to enjoy. 

Holiday parties provide ample opportunities to indulge in alcohol and delicious holiday sweets. Although the process may seem interesting, excessive intake of sugar and alcohol can cause unnecessary stress and guilt. On the contrary, you may be inclined to over-indulge in alcohol in order to cope with the stress of the holiday. 

"Have a certain sense of responsibility for your drinking and friends or family, and tell others what your plan is so they can help support you and encourage you," Seck suggested. "We also want to enjoy ourselves. If we indulge more than we planned, we need to have some compassion and understand that this is normal during this time, and we will not get back on track until the rest of next year. "

All these running around to complete all the things on your to-do list allows you to put your daily work in a secondary position. Remember, routine is a good thing. Maintaining your daily structure can help you stay awake in this joyous season.

This time of year makes us feel depressed. As the days get shorter and darker, many people are affected by seasonal affective disorder or SAD. 

Going outdoors for a walk or exercise can make you feel better and more energetic to deal with holiday-related housework. Remember to put your overall health at the top of any list.

Before you start inviting friends and family over and accepting all these party invitations, set some boundaries and understand that it is okay to decline.

We set ourselves high expectations because this is a season worth celebrating. Remember, sometimes it is better to decline an invitation than to try to attend every invitation.

Don't be afraid to ask for help when hosting and organizing events. Cooking for a group of people is heavy work, expensive and stressful. It will still be fun if everyone participates and helps set up and bring a dish or two.

"Pay attention to what those stressors are usually for us, and then try to make these plans ahead of time so that we can enjoy what is important to us without being bothered by other people's expectations," Sek added.

We will enter another Christmas season, where most (if not all) places will implement COVID restrictions. Even if you are organizing an event in your own home or going to another place to celebrate the holiday, you may want to check what agreements are in place to ensure that there is no tension in the actual gathering.

This might mean asking if you need to wear a mask during the visit, or asking if everyone in attendance has been vaccinated. 

"Convey to any family or friends who might visit in advance what you are satisfied with and what you expect from them so that no one is surprised," Secker said. "You have time to deal with any challenges that may arise from this."

In addition to planning, socializing and hosting, don’t forget to take a break and take care of you. Arrange some time alone and do things you like to do, such as reading a book, taking a bubble bath or watching your favorite holiday movie.

After all, a vacation is spending time with the people you love.

Saiker said: "Contact those who are alone or may not be able to contact, perhaps due to a pandemic or any other situation." "Remember, if you can't visit in person, maybe you can still arrange a phone call or video chat, or even Just send a thoughtful card by mail."

Although it takes a lot of time and effort to put everything together, don't forget to take a step back and appreciate the special moments in your vacation that you will cherish in the years to come.

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and sign up for our newsletter.

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