15 tips for a calmer Christmas – with or without ADHD

The holiday season can be tricky for anyone, but it’s especially challenging for those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). While the festivities can bring plenty of excitement, it’s also usually a whirlwind of social events, planning, and high expectations that can easily ramp up ADHD symptoms, leading to stress and feeling completely overwhelmed.

In a recent webinar, Life in the Fast Brain with ADHD - Christmas Edition, New Zealand ADHD advocates Hannah Hardy-Jones and Sarah McGuinness shared their personal stories and practical tips for managing the festive season.

Although the webinar focused on ADHD, the insights shared were aimed at anyone feeling the pressure of the holiday season. The combination of tasks, social obligations, and sensory overload can leave anyone feeling stretched thin, regardless of whether they have ADHD.

 

The Hurdles

For people with ADHD, this time of year can bring some unique struggles. McGuinness, founder of Revolutionaries of Wellbeing, summed it up as: “I just get completely overwhelmed. Just totally. There’s too much. It’s too much. There’s too much expectation.” This feeling of mental overload can be all too familiar.

Hardy-Jones, co-founder of AI company Contented, echoed that sentiment, saying, “It hits you all of a sudden, too. Like, all of the things.”

This sudden flood of tasks, social obligations, and sensory input can be particularly difficult for those with ADHD, who often face challenges with executive function and sensory processing.