How to Manage Anxiety During a Crazy Pandemic Holiday Season

The holidays are a time for family and friends, but it’s also undoubtedly a time for stress. The global pandemic hasn’t lessened the holiday anxiety in any way, either. Truth be told, the pressure of the holidays to travel to family, host a big gathering, and spend time around people is not something any of us needs right now.

Hopefully your friends and family realize the holidays are going to be different this year because of the pandemic. However, if your mother-in-law is still calling to ask what time you’ll be around for Thanksgiving dinner, then hopefully this article will help you navigate your anxiety as you handle everything from travel to social distancing this holiday season.

Managing your Travel Anxiety

November and December are likely the times of year you visit your parents as well as your in-laws. For many people, this involves traveling out of state or staying in a hotel. While most businesses have implemented specific cleaning procedures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the safety measures might not be enough to curb your travel anxiety.

The best-case scenario for 2020 is that you stay home for the holidays and continue to social distance. With this option, you can ensure everyone stays safe and you don’t have to try to navigate travel plans, which let’s be honest are never enjoyable to begin with.

Staying home, however, might not be in the cards. This is a particularly hard time to stay away from loved ones, so if you’ve made the decision to travel do your best to mitigate your anxiety. If you’re only traveling a state away, for example, instead of flying you might feel better renting a car. If you normally head to a large gathering, then suggest getting together as a smaller group this year instead.

Wherever you travel, you can also bring your own cleaning supplies and other sanitary items. Wipe down the airplane tray or rental car with disinfectant wipes before getting comfortable. If you’re staying in a hotel, consider bringing your own pillowcase and possibly a bottle of cleaner to spray the room down. Take whatever measures you need to feel safe this year as you travel to see family.

Communicating Your COVID Concerns

Conversations about the pandemic are not always easy to have with your loved ones, especially if you have opposing views. Your friends may be over social distancing and ready to get life back to normal, and your family may be willing to risk the virus to spend time together. It’s OK for your friends and family to feel this way, but you don’t have to let them push that mentality on you. The coronavirus is still a serious issue all over the world, and if you don’t feel safe, then let people know.

Talk to your loved ones about your COVID concerns as soon as possible. Get clear on what you are and are not comfortable with during the holidays and then share that information. During this conversation, it’s important to state from the beginning that your decision and choices are not up for debate. You’re entitled to your own opinion on how to keep everyone safe during the holidays, so share your main concerns while stating how you intend to spend the holidays.

How to Have an Enjoyable Thanksgiving

The least anxiety-inducing option for the holidays this year is to stay home and only celebrate with the people sharing the same home as you. Thanksgiving won’t be any fun if you’re constantly worrying about social distancing and disinfectant. We could all use a break from anxiety right now, so if you make the decision to stay home and avoid people this holiday season, that’s perfectly OK.

If you do want to have a small gathering, however, set up some precautions that will make you feel safe and allow you to have fun at the same time. For instance, the CDC recommends hosting your gathering outdoors in the fresh air. One option for following this guideline would be to set up a small bonfire and position the chairs six feet apart to maintain social distancing standards. You can all enjoy a toasty evening around the fire without coming in close contact.

Another safety idea is to dedicate a specific server so fewer people come in contact with the food. Plate and serve the dishes, then let people know you’ll be back at the counter in 20 minutes if they want seconds. Open the windows to let the air circulate if you’re indoors and encourage people to wear masks. Also know that a big aspect of a safe and enjoyable holiday season is celebrating with guests you know will respect whatever safety precautions you put in place.

Everyone is handling their COVID and holiday stress in different ways this year. If you’re having a little more trouble than usual managing your anxiety, then you might find counseling helpful. Contact us today to learn more about our anxiety counseling and how it can help you this holiday season.