Ho, ho, hold the stress: Dealing with the dark side of December

The holidays are a time of cheer — at least that's how they can look on social media and in family greeting cards. But with that cheer often comes a stocking full of stress.

December can be the most difficult time of year for many people. Loneliness, long days of darkness and social pressures combine in a perfect winter storm of stressors. MPR News host Bob Collins spoke with two experts about practical ways to manage holiday stress.

Emiliana R. Simon-Thomas, director of the Greater Good Science Center, teaches online courses in happiness — or, in the technical term, "subjective well-being." Tim Bono is an assistant dean and a lecturer in psychology at Washington University in St. Louis.

Tips for reducing holiday stress

Seek out the sunlight

With shorter days and more hours of darkness, a lack of sunlight can affect energy levels and mood.

Bono suggested two simple ways to combat this annual effect. Phototherapy can be done at home using a special light box that emits specific wavelengths of light. The other option, if possible, is to take a mid-day break if the sun comes out. In the winter, many people go to work and come home in the darkness, but if there's a break in the clouds during the day, you should seek it out.

Avoid social comparisons

Comparing your decorations or dinner recipes to what someone else has done has never been easier, thanks to social media. But the constant comparisons can be damaging.

"If you're bombarded by this long, long list of everyone else's wonderful things," Simon-Thomas said. "It's not helpful to your well-being."

Beware the pitfalls of family travel

Spending time with family should be a pleasant experience, but sometimes cramped quarters and critical relatives can turn the holidays into a less fantastical version of "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

"Humans did evolve in societies that didn't involve airplanes," Simon-Thomas said. "There are new challenges that come with spending lots of time far away from people, and then suddenly being completely immersed in a very small ... space."

Remembering to get out and talk a walk, or even choosing to stay at a hotel instead, can help remove some of the pressure.

Honor those who have passed by keeping traditions alive

The holidays can be a time of grief for some, especially if family members or friends who have died were strongly associated with specific traditions or recipes.

If there's a favorite cookie recipe your grandmother always made, bake a batch if it feels appropriate.

"Honor the memory of those who are no longer here," Bono said. "But also ... create new memories and surround yourself with the support and the love of your other friends and family."

For the complete discussion about holiday stresses and how to deal with them, use the audio player above.