While the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday includes a festive atmosphere and family reunions, many people often feel more stressed during holidays than at any other time of year.
Professor at National Taiwan Normal University’s Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling Chia-hsin Lin (林家興) says a recent study from the United States highlights this. A recent survey by the American Heart Association showed that 60% of Americans feel more stressed during holidays such as Thanksgiving than during tax season. Furthermore, more than half of respondents said it took weeks for their stress to return to normal levels, with one out of four saying they needed a month or more. 70% said they regretted not being able to relax and enjoy their holiday.
Lin says the stress is often related to visiting relatives with whom relations may be strained or may have different worldviews and lifestyles. This increases stress and makes maintaining healthy habits difficult.
Director of the John Tung Foundation’s Mental Health Center Yeh Ya-hsin (葉雅馨) says the Lunar New Year traditions bring with them many pressures. This may include deep cleaning and giving gifts (often in cash) as well as visiting many friends and relatives. Furthermore, etiquette and customs associated with the holidays may also bring stress, as does having to act as a host for many people and wanting to make sure they are enjoying themselves as well.
In the face of these pressures, Yeh suggests three ways to stay healthy and balanced during the holidays. The first is to eat healthy. She says that if you go for additional portions after a meal, make sure they are small or eat only vegetables. Second, do more exercise than usual, even if you already exercise regularly. The third is to maintain good sleep habits. Yeh says many people will watch TV shows throughout the holidays, but that getting back to your regular schedule of sleep is key to a healthy lifestyle once the holiday is over.