HSE shares stress-reducing tips ahead of the holiday season

The HSE has shared stress-reducing tips ahead of the Christmas holiday.

The festive season can be a time of joy, but for many, it can be when they feel stressed, anxious or down. 

This could be due to increased financial demands, juggling work and personal commitments, a first Christmas without a loved one, pressure to socialise, or increased loneliness.

The HSE' Your Mental Health' Programme has shared advice to help manage stress:

• Plan ahead: If you have a stressful day or week coming up, make a to-do list keeping it realistic and achievable. Try to schedule downtime for yourself as well.
• Prioritise sleep: Sleep helps you to think clearly and helps you do your best to try and deal with whatever the next day might bring. Seven hours of sleep is recommended for adults.
• Practice breathing exercises: Improving your breathing in a purposeful way will help your mind and body especially when faced with difficult situations.
• Stretch your legs: Physical activity will help you sleep, relax and feel better. When you can, exercise outside, connecting with nature while exercising helps reduce stress, burn off anxious energy and help you feel calmer.   
• Cut back on alcohol: The festive season often involves increased alcohol intake. People may also turn to alcohol when stressed but alcohol is a depressant and can lower your mood. Try to have alcohol-free or low alcohol alternatives.
• Be present: Mindfulness can help if you are feeling overwhelmed. It can help to gently and purposefully move your attention onto something less stressful such as a sound, smell or sight.
• Talk about it: It can help to talk to a friend or family member about how you feel. This might help you understand why you are feeling stressed and to get help with how to manage it.

According to Fiona Ward, Director of Counselling, HSE National Counselling Service, "Christmas and New Year are a happy time for lots of people, but it's important to remember that this is not the case for everyone. This time of year brings mixed emotions or sadness for some people. 

"For anyone who has lost a loved one, Christmas can be particularly tough. It can be hard if you feel under pressure to be happy especially if everyone else seems to be having a great time. So if you feel stressed or anxious, down or lonely over the Christmas period - remember you are not alone, lots of people struggle over the holidays and there are things you can do to feel better. Reach out. 

"Talking to a trusted friend or family member can be helpful. You may feel that you don't want to burden them if you're struggling but it can really help to share what you're feeling," she said.

The HSE and partner organisations offer a range of mental health support. These include text and phone support, counselling in person and online, stress control courses, breathing exercises and much more. 

For people seeking information on support options, please visit yourmentalhealth.ie or call the HSE Your Mental Health information line on freephone at 1800 111 888, any time, day or night.