The holidays tend to be a “season of stress” for women with ADHD. There’s often too much to do, pressure to find the perfect gifts, obligations to spend time with relatives who we’d rather not see, and an expectation that we will do it all with ease. With all these challenges, it’s no wonder that our ADHD symptoms can take a hit during the holidays. However, by making a few reasonable changes, can lessen this stressful time of year.
Don’t be afraid to say no. Try saying no to things that you’re not interested in doing and don’t have the time, energy, or money to do. It does take practice to get comfortable saying no, but most people will understand that you have limits and priorities, especially when you decline in a direct and kind manner
Connect with your tribe. Many women with ADHD feel obligated to spend time with negative or supportive family members during the holidays. If you can, try to minimize your time with difficult or toxic people and spend time with positive people to help buffer the negative impact. Who are the supportive people in your tribe? When will you make time to spend with your tribe? Face-to-face time may be ideal, but phone calls and texts work, too.
Beware Of Holiday Perfectionism. For a women with ADHD the holidays can be filled with so many expectations for ourselves . For instance, you’re chasing your tail trying to find the perfect gift or trying to decorate your house or bake cookies that look like the photos you saw on Instagram. Usually, these are wishes built on unrealistic expectations. When we expect to be perfect not only for ourselves we’re bound to be disappointed. Instead, we can set more realistic expectations and extend compassion to ourselves and others when we make mistakes or show up imperfectly. When we do this, we all end up happier and we can keep what really matters about the holidays in perspective
Daily Gratitude: During this holiday season appreciate the little things. Creating a daily gratitude practice is an excellent way to stay mentally and physically healthy. A simple way to do this is to identify three things you’re grateful for each day – perhaps doing it right before bed or first thing in the morning.