The last days of the year are exciting and joyful. The weather becomes winter, the snow turns white, the streets are crowded, and everyone is waiting for the beginning of the new year. But besides these charms, the last days of the year are associated with stress and many worries, Both the pressure in the work environment and the stress that we experience to prepare ourselves to accept the new year. Stay with us to know how to manage this stress.
Why are we stressed at the end of the year?
Every year, with the arrival of December and approaching the last days of the year, many people face severe stress. Various factors cause this stress. For some families, the Christmas holiday and its customs are significant. These people want to prepare for Christmas. Some events can be stressful, from cleaning the house to buying new clothes for family members. Some people face stressful conditions at their workplace; Completing annual projects, finishing the annual budget, planning for the new year, etc.
But there are other groups of people whose mental and emotional conditions cause stress. These people are used to evaluating their lives in the last year at the end of the year. They review their failures, successes, bitter and sweet events, and resolutions and make resolutions for the new year. Although this is not a problem, it usually leads to unpleasant feelings in these people.
However, year-end stress is a common psychological challenge that, if not successfully overcome, can ruin your memorable year-end and Christmas vacation moments. Many people focus on activities related to the end of the year instead of taking care of their mental health and experiencing less stress. Not managing these conditions sometimes makes taking a deep and comfortable breath difficult.
How should we manage the stress of the last days of the year?
To experience pleasant days at the end of the year and prepare for the new year, take help from the following solutions.
Rest and get enough sleep.
These days most people are busy and have many things to do. Your duties may become heavier in the work environment and your personal life. Because of this, as you work more, you need more rest. Lack of sleep and not resting these days is one of the causes of tension and anxiety.
Continue your exercise program.
Many people abandon their routine plans in the last days of the year. For example, they stop sports to start the new year again with a new sports program. Exercise increases vitality and fights stress; even if you don’t have enough time to complete your exercise program, spend at least half an hour a day for light exercise.
Eat healthy foods.
The rush of the last days of the year may make you not pay attention to your diet and eat whatever food you can. These days, many people tend to eat fast food and canned food. Maintain a healthy diet even in the last days of the year.
Have a plan.
When things become too much, we lose control very quickly. We may forget some of them and lack time to do them. Write the tasks you have on paper and plan to do them.
Prioritize things.
From the pile of things you have to do, start with the most important ones. Write your tasks on paper and arrange them according to their priority. Do important and urgent tasks first and then move on to other tasks.
Be realistic about your abilities.
When the last days of the year come, people think of considering new goals for the next year and reviewing the previous year’s goals. Don’t worry if you didn’t reach your goals last year. Most of us act unrealistically when setting goals and consider those beyond our abilities. If you still need to achieve these goals, don’t worry. This failure should not cause you to stress and worry. Instead of worrying, take a pen and paper and set goals for the coming year, but this time make a plan that is entirely realistic and considers your conditions and abilities.
Watch out for costs.
Managing expenses will also reduce your stress. Usually, on the days close to Christmas, living expenses increase. From preparing food and snacks for Christmas to getting the new clothes we need and the changes we want to make at home, you will soon gain a lot of your savings if you are careful. Shop wisely and get what you need. Write down everything you need to avoid impulse buying.
Reduce your online presence.
Try to spend the last days of the year more in the real world. Enjoy seeing the shops, flower shops, and the people’s excitement. Take time to explore nature and stay away from cyberspace. With this, you have more time to do backlogged work and enjoy the excitement of the real world in the last days of December.
Psychological solutions to deal with the stress of the last days of the year.
Consciously focusing on reducing stress and taking care of mental health is essential all year round, but it becomes even more critical in the last days of the year when people are emotionally affected by the circumstances. The following solutions will help you experience less stress on the previous days of the year;
Invest in happiness.
You may be surprised, but you can buy happiness with money. Money is not just for buying things; You can buy time and energy with money. For example, would you rather clean the house yourself or leave it to others and spend your energy and time doing something you enjoy?
Some people don’t have the right mindset and don’t know that some spending will eliminate heavier expenses. The most precious asset of every person is physical and mental health; if this health is damaged, it will be compensated with high costs.
The importance of this issue is so much that it is recommended to spend to save time and energy even while managing other expenses. Spending for happiness is a wise and enjoyable splurge.
Identify stressors.
In the beginning, we mentioned several stressful factors in the last days of the year. You can find the cause of stress in yourself; browse the routines that have been added to your daily life. After seeing the cause of stress, you can manage the situation with the solutions presented in this article. If you don’t resist a little change and modify your thinking and be creative, you can reduce stress to a great extent.
Change your mindset.
Sometimes we make things more complicated with our negative mindset. We magnify even the most minor difficulties for ourselves. Phrases like “This is hard.” Or “I’ll never be able to finish this.” throw away. Instead, value your small successes and be happy about whatever you complete.
Lower your expectations.
When others, the boss at work, friends and family members, and even ourselves have many expectations from us, we soon feel that we are under pressure. Expect from yourself as much as you can. Be sure to set boundaries for yourself to accept new responsibilities. Say “no” wherever you can’t do something.
Figure out what you need for your happiness, peace, and success. If something gets in the way of this goal, let it go. Not accepting a job that you cannot do has another virtue; It removes the feeling of guilt from leaving things unfinished. In this case, you have more energy and motivation to do the most important things for you.
Remember to have fun.
The work that needs to be done by the end of the year and the responsibilities of family life make us have little time for fun in the last days of the year. But having fun and sticking to some exciting traditions can reduce stress levels. Leave room in your December calendar for fun at home, even if it’s just for a short time. It is a pity you spend these happy and exciting days worrying and stressing.
The stress of the last days of the year is normal to some extent, but if it endangers your mental peace and even your physical health, you must deal with it. With the help of the tips we mentioned above, you can spend these last days of December more calmly, and instead of worrying and worrying, you can enjoy the unique and lovely atmosphere of Christmas.
Why do people often feel stressed at the end of the year?
There are several reasons for this. For some, the stress comes from preparing for the holidays, such as cleaning the house, buying new clothes, and preparing for Christmas. Others may feel stress from work-related tasks like completing annual projects, finishing the annual budget, and planning for the new year. Additionally, some people feel stress as they reflect on their successes and failures over the past year and make resolutions for the new year.
How can one manage the stress of the last days of the year?
The article suggests several strategies for managing end-of-year stress. These include getting enough rest and sleep, continuing your exercise program, eating healthy foods, planning and prioritizing tasks, being realistic about your abilities, managing expenses, reducing online presence, and focusing on mental health.
What are some psychological solutions to deal with the stress of the last days of the year?
The article suggests investing in happiness, identifying stressors, changing your mindset, lowering your expectations, and remembering to have fun. It’s important to focus on reducing stress and taking care of mental health, especially during the last days of the year.
What is the importance of managing stress at the end of the year?
Managing stress at the end of the year is important because if not successfully overcome, it can ruin memorable year-end and Christmas vacation moments. Many people focus on activities related to the end of the year instead of taking care of their mental health and experiencing less stress.
Why is it recommended to reduce online presence during the last days of the year?
Reducing online presence allows you to spend more time in the real world, enjoy the excitement of the season, and have more time to complete backlogged work. It helps to reduce stress and enjoy the last days of the year more fully.
How can setting realistic goals help in managing end-of-year stress?
Setting realistic goals helps to manage stress because it prevents you from worrying about not reaching overly ambitious goals. It’s important to set goals that consider your conditions and abilities, and not to let failure to achieve these goals cause stress and worry.
How can managing expenses reduce end-of-year stress?
Managing expenses can reduce stress because living expenses often increase in the days close to Christmas. By shopping wisely and avoiding impulse buying, you can prevent financial stress from adding to your overall stress levels.
How can having fun help in managing end-of-year stress?
Having fun and sticking to some exciting traditions can reduce stress levels. It’s important to leave room in your schedule for fun activities, even if it’s just for a short time, to help alleviate stress and enjoy the season.