While the holidays are often exciting, they also have the potential to be incredibly stress-inducing, especially for busy adult learners who are already juggling work, family, and end-of-semester exams. Adding in the pressures of travel, parties, and obligations with extended family, it can become overwhelming quickly.

It’s no surprise that nearly 9 out of 10 adults say that they experience stress during the holiday season, which many consider to stretch all the way from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.

While the holidays can be long and even chaotic, the right strategies can help you preemptively mitigate different stress factors so you can enjoy the season for what it is.

1. Set Boundaries

Set boundaries with others (and even yourself!) to avoid overcommitting when you can easily become inundated with plans.

Determine what your bandwidth looks like before the season actually begins, and come up with a game plan with your partner or immediate family members. This may include the following:

• You know you can only attend three events on your holiday break, and that one needs to be your annual sibling Hanukkah dinner.
• You and your partner decide that everyone needs a break, and you all decide to do Christmas at home together with just the immediate family.
• You know you want to decline all invitations to large parties with white elephant components, saving you an event and a trip to the store.
• You and your spouse agree not to host family until after you’ve completed your end-of-semester exams.

By knowing your boundaries upfront, it’s easier to prioritize what matters most to you and preserve your peace.

2. Prioritize Quality Time With Loved Ones

That old idea of “quality over quantity” applies when it comes to time spent with loved ones over the holiday season. It’s easy to feel like you need to attend every family event you’re invited to, but find ways to spend quality time with the people you care most about.

This may mean hosting smaller gatherings, finding one-on-one time for private gift exchanges, or potentially prioritizing one large family event that’s important to everyone.

3. Incorporate Regular Self-Care

Self care during the holiday season is incredibly important when it comes to preventing you from starting the new year feeling burnt out and exhausted.

Self-care doesn’t have to be exorbitant or time-consuming. Spending a day at the spa is wonderful if you have the opportunity and funds to do so, for example, but small daily routines can be easier to maintain. They may include:

• Morning meditation before you start your day.
• Regular exercise that you enjoy, even if it’s just talking a short walk.
• Time to read a chapter of your favorite book every night before bed.

Self-care can be as simple as taking a few minutes to yourself to relax, potentially with a cup of eggnog or warm cider in hand.

4. Balance Work & Time Off

It’s important to successfully balance work pressures with the need for time off. This may be particularly true if you’re dealing with an end-of-year deadline crunch or struggling to get things ready for Q1.

To effectively balance work and the time off you need for the holidays, consider using these strategies:

• Plan for time off. Request paid time off in advance, taking into account important events like exam dates, specific holidays, or events you want to attend. Make sure you’re familiar with your company’s time off processes— which may have deadline requirements or first-come-first-serve policies— so you can request PTO when it matters most.
• Set clearly defined work hours and stick to them. A 2022 study found that 47% of remote workers struggle with blurred work-life boundaries and 34% worry with the constant expectation to be available. Communicate with your team when you’ll be available and when you won’t, and don’t feel guilty about taking approved time off.
• Talk to your managers about important dates. If you have final exams coming up, for example, let your supervisors know that you might need additional support. They may be able to accommodate you.
• Delete the tasks you can. Ask for assistance from managers and coworkers as needed. There may be opportunities to hand tasks to other team members or take advantage of a slow work season, giving you a little more flexibility.

5. Create New Traditions

Traditions can be both exciting and nostalgic, but they can also add an exceptional amount of pressure and stress to an already-busy period.

You don’t have to uphold the convention of traveling two states over for the family Thanksgiving if it doesn’t feel feasible (or fun). Instead, you can create new traditions.

Here are a few ideas:

• Having a holiday breakfast instead of a big evening dinner so everyone can enjoy the rest of their day without the stress of cooking a big meal.
• Planning a low-key family outing, like an after-dinner walk to check out holiday lights or going to an annual local festival.
• Drawing names for a family gift exchange so there’s less pressure to buy gifts for everyone.
• Offering to do Christmas Eve with extended family or friends, but reserving Christmas Day for your immediate family.

6. Manage Expectations

Managing everyone’s expectations— including your own— can set you up for a fun and relaxing holiday season.

When it comes to managing your family’s expectations, let them know when you will and won’t be available. You can let them know what’s coming, in terms of plans or gifts. You may, for example, share that “everyone gets one gift from Santa and one gift from mom,” or that “I won’t be able to attend the New Year’s party, but I’m excited to spend time together on Christmas Eve.”

For work, remind your managers and coworkers about upcoming time off. Make sure they understand how it may impact your work and what you might need help with.

And remember to go easy on yourself with realistic expectations of what holidays do look like instead of what they should look like. Everything doesn’t have to be Pinterest-perfect; it’s okay if you don’t have the most extravagant decorations or a fifteen-dish Thanksgiving dinner. Your family will remember the quality time you spend together.

Enjoy Your Holidays… Even When It’s Busy

Though the holidays can come with immense pressure, the right expectations, boundaries, and self-care practices can help you mitigate potential stress and actually enjoy the season for what it has to offer.

A strong work/life balance is the first start, but remember to prioritize your own personal time, too. You’ll be able to better enjoy the events you do attend, and you can start the new year feeling ready for what’s to come.

Want to learn more about finding a better work/life balance to support continued education? Check out our blog for more!