While `tis the season to be jolly is common theme during the holidays, for many of us it can be a stressful time. Often there is a feeling of pressure to cook, host family and spend money. It's no wonder we can feel overwhelmed.

The weight of stress can affect our health in many negative ways, impacting our focus, productivity and well-being. Managing stress during a hectic time may feel impossible. But there are some simple things you can do to help yourself cope with stress during the holidays and all year long. These are five ways you can beat holiday stress.

Rein in Your Expectations

Being disappointed can be stressful. It can lead to anxiety and even depression during the holidays. Know that it’s OK if your holiday is not a series of greeting card moments. Experts at John’s Hopkins Medicine say being mindful is key. Try to accept situations as they are. Be present and approach each event without judgement. Acknowledge ahead of time that some things may not go as planned. This is normal. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment by romanticizing what the perfect holiday should be. Instead, put your effort into the traditions you feel you can and want to uphold. Be happy for the chance to celebrate what’s important to you.

Set Boundaries

It can be easy to get so focused on pleasing others during the holidays that our own needs end up on the backburner. Whether it’s saying “no” to an invitation or choosing to spend less money on gifts, setting boundaries can help keep you from feeling overwhelmed. Saying yes to too many commitments can create resentment.

So, if you find the demands of the season too much, find a polite way to decline an invitation. Or set a budget for spending and stick to it. Saying “no” to buying too much during the holidays can lower stress in the moment and it can help later when the holiday bills come due.

Give Yourself the Gift of Self-care

This year, add self-care to your holiday to-do list. Especially during stressful times, it’s important to eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep and stay physically active. All three are great ways to reduce stress and nurture yourself during a chaotic season. Research tells us that these things are key to keeping our bodies and minds balanced. When our health is in balance, we’re better able to cope with the mad rush of things that can happen around the holidays.

Take a Time Out

Some level of stress is healthy. We need it to survive. For example, if we feel a threat, stress gets our heart pumping and puts us on high alert. But too much stress can put us in an ongoing state of high alert, which is not healthy. This is when we need to tune out the pressures of the world and tune into our own needs.

Take some time out of your busy schedule to do something for you. You can even put “me time” on your calendar if it helps you remember to step away from everything else. Take a long bath, book a message, spend an afternoon reading a good book or put on your cozy pajamas and watch your favorite holiday movies. Just make sure time for your relaxation is included your holiday plans.

Keep Kindness First

Being kind costs nothing. You can’t always control how others act during the holidays but you can control how you respond. If someone gives you attitude while you’re out in public, know that you don’t know everything they may be dealing with. It’s best to take a few deep breaths, be kind and move on. Also, think ahead about uncomfortable conversations that may come up over the holiday table. Have a planned, kind “sound bite” ready to head off any questions or discussions that may be awkward. Follow that with a topic-changer like asking another family member what’s new with them.

The holidays can be a difficult time for people who are alone. Reach out to neighbors or friends that may not have family nearby. Think of an act of kindness you can do for them that will make their holiday a bit brighter. Research says giving to or serving others can reduce anxiety and depression and increase life satisfaction. There are many ways to volunteer to help others during the holidays and no better way to feel the spirit of gratitude that the holidays are meant to bring. 

Practice these five tips during the holidays and all year when you’re feeling overwhelmed. The health benefits of reducing stress are the gift that keeps on giving.

Sources: Sleep, food, exercise, stress: Why working on one of these can improve the others, Mayo Clinic, 2023; 4 Mindful Tips to De-Stress This Holiday Season,  Johns Hopkins Medicine; 10 Tips for Managing Holiday Stress According to Therapists,  Women’s Health, 2025; Mental Health and the Holidays: 9 Tips for Self-Care,  National Council on Aging, 2026