Stressful season

The holiday season comes with a lot of joy, but it can also mean a schedule full of parties, long lines and little downtime.

"The end-of-the-year holiday season can be exhausting and highly stressful to many," said Savitha Puttaiah, MD, psychiatrist and medical director of Baptist Behavioral Health. "Even though it's the festive season, Christmas appears in the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), a scale that was created in the mid-1960s by psychiatrists Thomas H. Holmes and Richard H. Rahe, to capture the effects of stress on a person over a period of time."

Dr. Puttaiah offered some quick and easy tips to help reduce holiday stress during this sometimes-challenging time of year.

Budgeting during the holidays

"Sticking to a budget and sharing this goal with someone who can keep you accountable can be a simple start and keep you less overwhelmed," Dr. Puttaiah said.

Here are some suggestions for a financially healthy holiday:

• Use only cash or set spending limits on your credit card.
• Delete shopping apps like Amazon from your phone to curb impulsive purchases.
• Focus on meaningful, budget-friendly gift options.

Managing alcohol consumption

Alcohol can be hard to stay away from, as it's part of the social fabric, Dr. Puttaiah said. This is another area where it's helpful to bolster your support system to keep you on track with drinking.

A few ways to avoid alcohol during the holidays include:

• Bringing a favorite nonalcoholic drink to events.
• Volunteering to be the designated driver.
• Sticking to routines like exercise and meditation to support your mental health.

"You can also be selective about the events you attend, especially if you know there will be excessive alcohol there," Dr. Puttaiah said.

Self-care strategies

Sometimes, setting boundaries is necessary to ensure you have space for yourself.

"The holidays give you the opportunity to recharge, connect with family and nature, and do things that are within your control," Dr. Puttaiah said. "If the holidays are triggering, anticipating this and having a strategy to manage triggers rather than just going with the flow can be very helpful when things feel overwhelming."

Here are some ideas for personal time:

• Take a walk in nature or enjoy a book you’ve been meaning to read.
• Spend time on hobbies that bring you joy.
• Balance alone time with meaningful connections to loved ones, particularly if you struggle with grief during the holidays.

Have a support system and make sure you don't skip parts of your routine like taking your medications, getting some decent sleep or going to the gym.

Unplugging for mental health

Dr. Puttaiah recommended setting aside at least a couple of days a week for a digital detox.

"Sometimes, it can be difficult to step completely away from electronic gadgets because you have to stay in contact with your loved ones, so one thing I find helpful is deleting apps," she said. "If you're uninstalling social media, work email and shopping apps, and only using your cell phone for what it's truly meant for, you will save a ton of energy and brain cycles."

If you can't delete work or other apps, you can reduce screen time by:

• Turning off nonessential notifications to minimize distractions.
• Keeping devices out of reach during family or personal time.
• Replacing screen time with hobbies like journaling, puzzles or outdoor activities.

She added, "It boils down to the choices we make, being mindful and understanding that the spirit of Christmas is in the togetherness. It's a time where we reflect, spend time with our loved ones, forgive, take stock of what's important and become better versions of ourselves."