Managing Holiday Stress

Tips for a Calmer, More Enjoyable Season

The holidays are often described as joyful, magical, and filled with connection. But for many people, this time of year also brings pressure, expectations, financial strain, family triggers, social overwhelm, and a long list of to-dos. If you are feeling stressed instead of festive, you are not alone.

At Orchard Valley Counselling, we support many clients in Kelowna who find the holiday season emotionally heavy. Whether it is navigating family dynamics, trying to keep up with obligations, or managing your own inner pressure to make everything perfect, it can take a toll on your mental health.

Holiday stress is real, but there are practical ways to make this season feel lighter and more manageable.

Why the Holidays Can Be So Stressful

Even if you usually cope well throughout the year, December tends to amplify everything. You may experience
• increased social obligations
• financial pressure or gift expectations
• grief from past losses
• family tension or unresolved conflict
• disrupted routines
• shorter daylight hours that affect mood
• perfectionism around creating the “ideal” holiday

The combination of emotional, social, and physical stress makes many people feel overstimulated, disconnected, or exhausted by January.

Practical Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress

1. Set simple, realistic expectations

The pressure to create a perfect holiday often leads to burnout. Instead, identify what actually matters to you and simplify the rest. What traditions or events bring you joy? What can be skipped this year?

2. Create boundaries with your time and energy

You do not need to attend every event or accommodate every request. It is allowed to say no, leave early, or prioritize rest when you feel stretched thin.

3. Plan for financial stress

Decide in advance what you can comfortably spend. Most people appreciate thoughtfulness more than cost. Consider low-stress options like homemade gifts, shared meals, or setting group spending limits.

4. Protect your downtime

The holidays often disrupt routines, but creating small pieces of rest makes a big difference. Try slow mornings, quiet evenings, or even 10-minute breaks throughout the day.

5. Support your nervous system

Stress naturally activates your body. Calming techniques can help you stay grounded.
• deep breathing
• grounding exercises
• mindfulness
• gentle movement
• time outdoors
Even small habits create noticeable relief.

6. Prepare for family triggers

If gatherings tend to feel overwhelming, plan ahead. Think about who you feel safe with, how long you want to stay, and what boundaries you may want to hold. It can also help to line up a supportive friend you can check in with afterward.

7. Acknowledge your emotions

Many people feel grief or loneliness during the holidays. Giving yourself permission to feel what you feel reduces the pressure to perform happiness and allows you to move through the season more authentically.

When Holiday Stress Feels Like Too Much

If the holidays consistently leave you overwhelmed, anxious, or emotionally drained, counselling can help you understand your stress responses, build tools that actually work, and create a calmer experience moving forward.

Our counsellors support clients with
• anxiety
• stress and burnout
• family conflict
• perfectionism
• emotional overwhelm
• depression during the winter season

Talking to someone who understands can make the holidays feel much lighter.

Support Is Available in Kelowna and Online

If you want help reducing stress this holiday season, Orchard Valley Counselling is here for you. Whether you prefer in person sessions in Kelowna or online counselling from home, you can get support quickly and comfortably.

Book your appointment today and head into the holidays feeling calmer, grounded, and supported.