Navigating Holiday Stress: How Arkos Health Supports Your Mental Well-being

Overall wellbeing is a key component of experiencing times of joy during the holidays. The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy and togetherness, yet it can also bring about feelings of stress, anxiety and depression for many individuals. With heightened expectations, family gatherings, and financial pressures, it’s not uncommon for people to feel overwhelmed. At Arkos Health, we understand these challenges and our team of mental health providers and nurse practitioners are committed to providing support to help you navigate this season with ease. Below is a list of 6 strategies to help meet the stress of the holidays head on:

• Set Realistic Expectations: Setting realistic expectations for holiday events, gift-giving, and interactions with family members can reduce stress. Accepting imperfections and focusing on meaningful experiences over materialistic ones can make the holidays more enjoyable.
• Prioritize Self-Care: During the holiday rush, self-care often takes a backseat. Prioritize activities that help maintain mental and physical health, such as regular exercise, adequate sleep, and a balanced diet. Taking time each day to relax and rejuvenate can significantly reduce anxiety levels.
• Establish Healthy Boundaries: It’s okay to decline invitations or cut short visits that drain your energy. Establish clear boundaries regarding your time and emotional availability. Communicate your needs to family and friends to prevent feeling overwhelmed.
• Manage Financial Stress: Gift-giving can be a major source of anxiety. Setting a budget and sticking to it can ease financial worries. Consider alternative ways of showing appreciation, such as handmade gifts or quality time.
• Practice Mindfulness and Gratitude: Mindfulness techniques, such as meditation, can help manage stress. Taking a few minutes each day to focus on what you are grateful for can shift your mindset from anxiety to appreciation. Centering your own well-being will allow you to enjoy these special days.
• Deep Breathing Exercises: Simple deep breathing for 1-3 minutes can relieve stress and anxiety. Sit in comfortable area, plant your feet on the ground and take several deep breaths. 

At Arkos Health, we understand the unique mental health challenges that come with the holiday season. Our value-based care model addresses mental health by focusing on the patient first, and the best possible outcome for them. This approach emphasizes coordination among healthcare providers, ensuring that mental health is treated as an essential component of overall health. 

Our patient care teams offer support and guidance tailored to individual needs. Whether through individual therapy, support groups, or wellness workshops, our goal is to empower you to approach the holidays with confidence and peace. This comprehensive approach takes into consideration all factors that can be causing an imbalance. “Throughout the year and especially during the holidays, we want our patients to prioritize themselves first by being more conscious about their mental state and overall health” shares Roxanna Donan PMHNP-BC, FNP-C, MSN, BSN, RN.

If you or someone you know are experiencing anxiety or depression during this time, do not hesitate to reach out to Arkos Health. We are here to support you in making the holiday season a time of reflection, relaxation, and realigned priorities. Together, we can create a plan that transforms stress into calmness. From all of us at Arkos Health, we wish you a wonderful holiday season. Please visit us at Arkos Health to learn more about what we do.