Whether it’s money concerns, loneliness, or shouldering the responsibility of making your family’s Christmas magical, the holidays can bring as much stress as they do joy. And with a chorus of viruses conspiring to disrupt travel plans and family gatherings, there are fresh worries on our plates this year. A pre-pandemic survey from The American Psychological Association (APA) found that 38% of people are stressed about the holidays. And in a more recent poll from the APA, 27% of respondents say that most days they are so stressed they cannot function.
To help combat end-of-year anxiety, popular mindfulness company Calm has teamed up with U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy on a series of free wellness offerings designed to give people some mental health support. The “Mindfulness Tools” series is available starting Dec. 1 on Calm and YouTube and includes five sessions around relatable themes, including: easing holiday stress, combating loneliness, navigating hectic days, and dealing with uncertainty, change, and negativity in the world.
