With just a week left before winter break, school can feel particularly hectic and anxiety-inducing. With so many tasks to complete and so little time to spare, the approaching holidays only intensify the mental load. This is why it is important to be taking the proper steps towards managing stress and enjoying the holiday season, despite the pressures. 

There are several causes for stress during the holidays. 

“It’s very stressful for me to get around with my family, because my family and I all gather together and there’s a lot going on,” said Charlotte Power, a junior at Santa Barbara High. “Another thing that’s very stressful is trying to find gifts for people, because I don’t know if they’re actually going to like them or not.”

According to a 2023 survey by the American Psychological Association and The Harris Poll, nearly nine out of ten of United States adults say that something causes them stress during the holiday season. Common reasons include spending money for gifts, finding the right presents, and missing family or loved ones.

“I feel a bit more stressed than usual, because I have more work that’s coming up, including my actual job. So on top of schoolwork, I also have to go to my job and work more hours,” Guillermo Vences-Razo, a senior, said. 

About 82% of students have experienced stress overload at some point during the school year,as stated in a 2024 Worldmetrics.org report. Though the weeks before break may not specifically be causes of worry, the final exam season may induce a feeling of overwhelmedness. Academic, social, and extracurricular expectations weigh heavily on people during this time, whether it be working additional hours or studying for exams. 

Rachel Phelps-Hadidian, SBHS teacher of Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology, discussed the many symptoms of stress she has seen in students. “Not coming to class or doing actual work, stomachaches, lots of bathroom breaks, and being a jerk.”

As Phelps mentioned, stress can lead to behaviors like lashing out at others—a psychological phenomenon known as displacement, where negative feelings are redirected at someone or something else instead of being addressed directly.

Phelps is in the middle of teaching her last unit in AP Psychology about mental health and disorders. She explained that as defined by psychologists, stress is the process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors, that we appraise as positive or negative in nature. Stress not only affects one’s emotional and mental state, but it also weakens the physical system. 

Other physical manifestations of stress include dizziness, aches, eye strains, and insomnia.  Symptoms are extremely common in American adults, and studies reveal that stress is prevalent in teens as well. Physiological signs (e.g. inflammation, headaches, or fatigue) are not only common but can also lead to more serious health issues like depression or heart disease if left unaddressed. 

So, the question is: how can students minimize stress? 

“Most of the stress is about people freaking out about something that’s already happened, or freaking out about something that’s going to happen in the future. You end up stuck in the moment, and maybe trying to get yourself out of those two places and trying to be present is helpful,” Phelps said. 

She also mentioned that realizing how much control one has over their situation can be beneficial in releasing anything that is out of one’s control.  

“Maybe ask a teacher about homework; usually our teachers don’t seem very inviting about helping, but I’d say they are pretty helpful if you just ask them, even if you are a little nervous. But besides that, it’s just all about giving yourself some time to recover from stress and think about it before you just… blow up,” Vences-Razo said. 

Additional coping methods include taking walks, listening to music, confiding in loved ones, and remembering the holiday spirit. Ultimately, relieving stress is all about stepping back and realizing that it is not the end of the world. All people experience pressure in their lives, and the best way to manage it is by decelerating oneself and preventing burnout at all costs.  

“My advice for people who are stressed right now because of holidays is just take a break. Santa Claus is not that serious; you can just chill out and relax,” said Jeremy Solano Beltran, a senior at Santa Barbara High School.   

Taking time to recharge and enjoy the season’s simpler moments can help combat the stress of the holidays. So, from The Forge, happy holidays—take a deep breath, and enjoy the break! 

Students’ eyes are glued to screens; classrooms emit quiet yet noticeable signs of stress. [Image Credit: Michelle Wang]