Useful information
Prime News delivers timely, accurate news and insights on global events, politics, business, and technology
The holidays are often a time of celebration and joy, but for many people they are also incredibly stressful. And if your anxiety level increases this December, you’re not alone.
Nearly half, 41%, of American adults say their stress increases this time of year, according to the American Psychological Association. “I think it’s a comfort to know that you’re not the only one who feels very stressed,” says the happiness expert. Jessica Weiss.
Weiss has spent more than a decade giving talks and workshops on happiness at work, including a TED talk titled “Happiness: it’s an inside job.” Here are her tips on how to improve your mood this season.
1. Maintain social connections
For Weiss, when you’re feeling stressed, “the most important thing is to maintain social connections,” he says. Specifically, try to “have some micro moments of connection.”
They can be with family and friends and they don’t have to be too long. “I’m talking about 10 minutes,” he says. Ideally, they should be done in person, but if they have to be through a phone call or text message, that’s fine too. Try to have at least two moments of connection a day.
“Even brief moments of positive interaction will increase happiness and reduce stress,” he says.
2. Keep your routine
Second, regardless of what the holiday season brings in terms of a variety of seasonal activities, “stick to your regular routines,” he says.
For Weiss, it’s exercise, but “maybe your regular routine is reading for half an hour in the morning,” he says. “Maybe your regular routine is doing breathing exercises before you start your day. Maybe your regular routine is relaxing with a hot bath.”
It’s especially important to keep doing whatever you do to de-stress. That “will make everything feel a lot more normal,” he says.
3. Say “no” when you need to
Finally, it is very easy for agendas to fill up at this time of year, but it is not necessary to say yes to every invitation. “Say no to anything that drains you,” says Weiss.
“There will be certain things that will be essential, right?” he says, maybe family gatherings, for example. But, he adds, “non-essential things are things you can say no to, and the litmus test is: what’s the worst that can happen if I say ‘no’?”
If you realize there won’t be any major repercussions, that’s your chance to say no and get that time back.
Ultimately, Weiss believes that “sometimes less celebration means more joy.”
Do you want to earn extra money outside of your daily job? Register for CNBC Online Course How to earn passive income online for common passive income sources, tips for getting started, and real-life success stories.
Also, sign up for CNBC Make It is the newsletter for tips and tricks for success at work, with money, and in life.
