Understanding the sources of holiday stress and anxiety can help you plan to avoid these sources of stress or minimize their impact.  Most  holiday stress and anxiety comes from one of three sources:

1.  Family pressures. Although family relationships can cause conflict or stress at any time, during the holidays it can intensify. Real families seldom fit the idyllic, Hallmark picture that gets hyped during the holidays. 
2. Financial pressures.  Overspending during the holidays on gifts, travel, food and entertainment can increase stress. Particularly in this economic climate, with financial distress at a record level, trying to make ends meet while ensuring that everyone on the gift list is happy can lead to a financial spiral and a sense of hopelessness.   
3. Time pressures.  Exercise and sleep, which are the best defence against stress and fatigue, are often the first things we sacrifice in the holiday rush. Feeling exhausted increases stress and stress robs us of energy to accomplish what we need to get done.  

 How can you make the most of your holiday season?  

1. Figure out what causes you stress, and develop a strategy to manage it. If it's financial, set a budget and look at less costly celebrations ( try home made gifts, start a family gift exchange, or even consider free gifts, such as  a free afternoon of babysitting) and  make cash only purchases. 
2. Ask for and accept help. Reaching out to others and offering help or asking for help is a way of saying you care about them and asking them to care about you too. Whether it's cooking & cleaning, shopping or watching over difficult family members, that's a gift that can be mutually exchanged. By reaching out and asking for help it also creates an opportunity to role model the need for support at other times of the year which is something everyone needs no matter how competent and organized. 
3. Go with the flow.  Much holiday anxiety comes from unrealistic expectations. Learning to "go with the flow" and accepting flaws as part of life goes a long way to reducing holiday stress. 
4. Practice self care.  Take care of you. Get your sleep, breathe, eat well. Take a break just for you. Physical activity is one of the best ways to build your resiliency during stressful times.

 As a business leader, how do you manage holiday cheer in the workplace?  

1. Acknowledge the added stresses that everyone faces. Encourage good self-care. Be sensitive to personal situations. Encourage employees to seek support from family and friends or seek professional help if needed. If you have an Employee Assistance Program, use it. Or, call Mosaic Counselling and Family Services if you need advice.
2. Consider offering some additional time flexibility to help employees balance all the additional demands. Productivity decreases when employees stress about their personal lives. Loyalty increases when employees feel valued and recognized.
3. The one thing we ALL have in common is that we have a holiday. With increasing diversity in workplaces, employees celebrate a wide range of special days. However we choose to celebrate the season, the holiday gives each of us an opportunity to spend time with family, neighbours and community.  "Wishing  you a happy holiday" is something we can all share.
4. Celebrate the friendships and support in the workplace. This year may not be the year for the major office party with many organizations scaling back. A meaningful celebration does not need to be elaborate. What really matters is the chance to say "thank you", to wish your employees well, and to come together as a workplace team. Ask your employees what they would like to see as a celebration given the current financial climate.  Attending one more function, deciding who to bring, purchasing new clothing etc. can add considerable pressure for many. You may be pleasantly surprised to discover that they too would like a simple event that would allow for them to come together as a workplace team and celebrate the holiday.