Women, Mental Health, and the Holidays
The holiday season can be a source of joy, connection, and celebration. Yet for many women, this time of year brings unique mental health challenges. The stress of trying to balance family dynamics, societal expectations, and the relentless pace of holiday activities can cause the pressure to mount. Let’s take a look at some of the common challenges women may face this time of year that can impact mood, anxiety, and more!
1. The Weight of Expectations
Holidays often come with high expectations. From the best gifts, to perfect gatherings, to making things feel magical and upholding traditions, the pressure is on! It’s often the expectation that women are the generators of the merry-making. This can lead to stress, anxiety, and even feelings of failure when reality doesn’t match the idealized holiday portrayed in movies and on social media.
Try this instead:
Set Realistic Goals: You do not have to be the perfect Pinterest person! Perfection is not attainable but if you set realistic goals around what to do for the holidays you may find yourself a little less stressed.
Delegate Responsibilities: Share the workload by asking family members to pitch in with cooking, decorating, or shopping.
Embrace "Good Enough": Doing what you can with what you have and releasing the pressure of perfection may make you feel a lot better!
2. Financial Stress
Gift-giving, travel, and festive meals can take a significant toll on finances. Women often feel the pressure to spend beyond their means to ensure their families and friends feel loved and appreciated. Financial stress can lead to anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, and even resentment.
What to Do About It:
Set a Budget: And stick to it! Deciding what is reasonable to spend in advance can set guidelines to keep you in check as you go.
Get Creative with Gifts: Handmade items or acts of service can be a meaningful alternative to purchasing gifts.
Communicate Openly: If finances are tight, let loved ones know. Suggest gift exchanges with spending limits or shared experiences instead.
3. Family Dynamics
For some, the holidays bring the joy of family reunions. For others, they’re a minefield of complex relationships, unresolved conflicts, and challenges in communication. Women can often feel responsible for other’s emotions, making this time of year even more stressful.
What to Do About It:
Acknowledge what is yours: And what is not yours. You are not responsible for managing everyone around you. Allow yourself to set down anything beyond your control and focus on what is your responsibility truly.
Limit Time in Stressful Environments: Set boundaries with the amount of time spent with family or in situations that you find stressful or draining.
4. Loneliness and Isolation
The holidays are not a time of togetherness for everyone. For women without strong family ties or support networks, feelings of isolation can be amplified this time of year. Grief and loss can also feel more intense around the holidays if you’ve lost a loved one.
What to Do About It:
Create Your Own Community: Family is sometimes built. Connect with friends, neighbors, and community. Reach out to someone you’ve been wanting to create a deeper connection with and make plans!
Volunteer: There’s nothing like giving back to your community to increase feelings of connection during the holidays.
Honor Absent Loved Ones: Find meaningful ways to remember those who are no longer with you, such as lighting a candle, writing a letter, or creating a special ritual in their honor.
5. Overwhelm and Burnout
With so much to do and so many people to please, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overcommitting. The constant demands of holiday preparation can cause us to easily overdo it.
What to Do About It:
Check in with yourself: Women are so highly socialized to self sacrifice for the benefit of others. Start by tuning into what you want and need and allowing that to help dictate what you do and don’t do.
Learn to Say No: It’s okay to decline invitations or scale back commitments if they feel overwhelming. Maybe the Elf on Shelf plays much smaller tricks. Maybe that little gremlin gets a boot out into the snow!
Prioritize Self-Care: Schedule some quiet time, whether it’s a hot bath, a walk in nature, or a few hours with a good book.
Moving Forward with Intention
The holidays can be a time of light and joy and a time of stress and overwhelm. Making sure you check in with yourself and prioritize your needs as well will ensure you have a happier and healthier holiday season. If you find yourself really challenged by this time of year, consider exploring this further with a licensed therapist. Schedule a free consultation with one of our therapists specializing in the unique needs of women’s mental health today!
