The season of Christmas and winter holidays is all about joyful exchanges of gifts, gatherings with family and friends, and cherished traditions. But love and joy can also be accompanied by a number of stressors – chaotic travel, difficult discussions at the dinner table with relatives and worries about finding the right gifts that won’t blow too big a hole in your budget, writes The Conversation.

This stress can take a toll on your mental and even physical health, and studies show that even mortality rates are higher during the holidays.

So how do you find the best balance during the holidays so that you feel fulfilled and not consumed by anxiety? You may be able to find this balance through some cultural tricks of the Danes.

Denmark, even though it can be cold and dreary in the winter, is full of people who are consistently among the happiest nations in the world.

Interestingly, the Danish language also has some specific words that relate to nurturing well-being. Although they can be used at any time of the year, some are more useful for navigation during the Christmas season.

The solution may be overdoing it during the holidays

Understanding the Danish word “overskud” can help you find a little more balance in the joy that comes with many things.

“Overskud” is a noun that roughly means “surplus”. In an economic context, it means profit, but in everyday language Danes use it to refer to the availability of energy, availability and resources to solve a task or problem.

Having excess is generally seen as a good thing: you can go the extra mile at work, throw an elaborate holiday party, or find even more thoughtful gifts.

Danes often combine this word with other nouns, so you can hear them talking about a “big breakfast”—a big breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, coffee, and toast.

Or you might hear about the “over-the-top dad,” the father who takes the time to decorate Christmas cookies with his kids and their friends.

Although it may sound like a boast to say that a person has a “perskud”, the Danes respond to it with genuine admiration. After all, who doesn’t want to have the extra energy they need to face everyday challenges?

Some Danish psychotherapists say that more “extra” can help you be more content, calm and present in the lives of the people close to you.

PHOTO: Olena Ivanova / Panthermedia / Profimedia Images

However, your energy is not limitless even at Christmas

At the same time, holidays can often require “extra” in several areas: food must be sufficient and meet everyone’s tastes and expectations, gifts must be thoughtful, and the Christmas tree must be carefully selected and then tastefully decorated.

How do you find a balance between all of these?

Any psychologist will tell you that maintaining healthy boundaries is associated with better mental health.

Importantly, Danes also use the word “overskud” to clearly communicate when they cannot cope with an event, task or obligation. Instead of saying that he is overwhelmed, a Dane might say that he lacks the “overkill” to go to a party or meet someone for a glass of gløgg, a glass of Christmas mulled wine.

Basically, it’s a way of succinctly implying that something sounds fun and you’d like to do it, but you just don’t have the energy.

Danes also use a verb that is related to the noun “overskud”. They may say that they cannot “overdo” something – organize a family event during vacation, plan a trip or clean the house in a month.

Oftentimes, activities that should be fun and invigorating, like going to a holiday party during the week or buying a “Secret Santa” gift for a co-worker, take a lot of effort.

If their “pantry” of energy has run out and they’d rather just stay at home in their pajamas, you can hear the Danes say, “I just can’t do it.”

Essentially, Danes use the words “overskud” and “overskue” to say no, implicitly understanding that there is nothing personal about the refusal.

By saying no to some things, you will have time and energy to work with others with more energy and joy, and to plan that “over the top” party or family dinner, decorate the tree, or do other things that give you more excitement .

PHOTO: Evgenyatamanenko, Dreamstime.com.

The importance of “pyt” for the Danes

As a rule, people want their ideas about the holidays to be impeccably translated into reality, but often we have to deal with rude strangers, long lines, culinary disasters, piles of dirty dishes, screaming children and relatives who can’t wait to scold us.

You can practice letting go of your holiday frustrations by using the Danish word “pyt,” which is pronounced “pid.”

“Pyt” is similar to “what to do” or “what’s going on” and is used to deal with minor frustrations, problems or errors.

Danes can say about their own behavior: “I didn’t wrap this gift very well.” Or they might use the word when they feel another person’s frustration: “sweat, this cookie looks a little funny, but it’s delicious.”

“Drinking” is about admitting that things don’t always go according to plan and accepting it.

Psychologists note that extremely high personal standards are a sign of poor coping mechanisms and reduced ability to cope with daily stressors.

In addition, stress can be relieved by accepting imperfection as a normal and healthy part of life.

Another way to “ask” is to focus on the things that really matter. Is it really worth getting mad at that long line at the hypermarket and letting it ruin your day? Is it just a momentary inconvenience that will soon be forgotten?

One of the advantages of holiday stress over unexpected stress is that it is predictable. have you been here

If you don’t try to do it all and don’t expect everything to go according to plan, you can have the best holidays ever.

PHOTO Article: Citalliance, Dreamstime.com.