Holiday Stress Management
The holidays can be a time of fun and celebration as well as a time of stress. Taking some time to consider way that you can minimize stress and maximize the fun is worthwhile. A variety of factors such as family obligations, additional tasks, traveling and financial worries have an impact on our stress levels during the holiday season. The following suggestions may help make the holidays more relaxing and provide you the opportunity to spend more time enjoying family and loved ones.
1. "Shop Wisely": The task of selecting and purchasing gifts for those we care about can be overwhelming and costly. When considering gifts for friends, suggest a get together or an evening out as an alternative to purchasing presents. This allows you to spend time with those you care about and takes some of the holiday burden off of everyone. Gift exchanges can also be a great way to celebrate with less stress.
2. Be Realistic: There is only so much that any of us can do in a day. Try not to over commit yourself to events, parties and gatherings that may end up leaving you feeling anything but festive. Evaluate what you can realistically do and stick to it. Many people have multiple holiday obligations and are likely to understand that you can't attend everything.
3. Plan Ahead: Making a plan to get some of your holiday preparation done ahead of time can
really help. Avoiding the last minute hustle and bustle allows for more time to focus on the people in your life.
4. Give Yourself a Break: Different people have different feelings about the holidays. It's not uncommon to experience some form of the "holiday blues." It's OK! If you're dealing with the recent loss of a loved one the holidays may be particularly difficult. Take some time for yourself so that you are more able to enjoy the activities that you do participate in.
5. Prioritize: Evaluate what you and your loved ones value about the holidays and try to make a commitment to partake in celebrations that are consistent with what you value. Spend time with people that you care about and enjoy!
