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OPTIMIZE YOUR HEALTH
Healthy Stress-free Holidays
Holiday Stress: Go from “Oh, No, No!” to “Ho,
Ho, Ho!”
By Ryan Seay, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist
The Holiday Season brings thoughts of time off of work, excuses
to eat more than usual, spending more time with family, as well
as, giving and receiving gifts. While these traditional activities
bring joy to many, the added stress can be overwhelming for others.
Here are some ways to make the best of the Holidays without undue
stress:
- To begin the Holidays off on the right foot, set aside
15 minutes specifically to reflect on what they mean to you. Everyone
has a different idea of what the Holiday Season means to them. It
could be family, friends, or religion. Start the 15 minutes
off by relaxing your muscles and breathing slow. Then turn
your attention to what the true meaning of the Holidays are for
you. Keep those thoughts in mind as you move forward through
the Holidays.
- Next, honor yourself. This can be done in many ways. Shopping
for gifts can be stressful this time of year, with trying to
get the perfect gift to battling the busy stores. Taking a day
off from work during the week to do your shopping can be a nice
gift to yourself, while getting all of your shopping done under
less stressful conditions. Many people have sick days or personal
days off from work, give one to yourself to reduce your stress
and prevent a “real” sick day. Remember, that
the internet is also a great place to shop, as the gifts are
delivered to your door. Use one credit card for internet purchases
so those transactions are easily tracked later, again reducing
stress.
- Surveys reveal that almost 50% of Americans feel pressured
to spend more money than they can afford. Set a budget and
stick by it. You will be proud of yourself and feel less
stress when you get your credit card bill the following month.
- High expectations can lead to disappointment and stress. Many
families do not spend much time together during the year, so
the Holidays are a time to get caught up with distant relatives. Trying
to pack a year worth of family time into a few days can lead
to pressure. Many times the pressure comes out as irritation,
arguing, and tension. Expect that everything may not go
perfectly and move through tension with a positive attitude.
- Too many parties and events to attend (or not any to
attend) can create feelings of pressure or loneliness. Do
not feel that you have to attend all invitations to Holiday events. Pick
the ones that fit with your idea of the Holidays and attend those. The
idea is to reduce unnecessary pressure. If you tend to feel
isolated during the Holidays, go out of your way to connect with
friends and family. Actively be alert to those Holiday
events and attend them.
The bottom line is to first reconnect with your personal meaning
of the Holiday Season. Once you find what is important to you,
follow through the whole season being mindful of that special meaning. You
will start out the new year feeling refreshed and reconnected to
yourself, without the regret of giving to others and neglecting yourself.
—December 2006
Back to December
Wellness e-Letter
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