| For some Holiday Stress is a joyous fun time | | | | |
| whereas for others it's figuratively the | | | | Emotions of confusion, frustration, |
| straw that breaks the camel's back. In | | | | uncertainty, and in some cases, anger and |
| addition to your already ongoing everyday | | | | upset can pop up at any time. |
| stress, the holidays bring extra stress. Thus | | | | |
| you are more likely to suffer from stress | | | | And for those who may have lost a beloved |
| related issues such as stomach problems, | | | | family member, or friend, or lover, the |
| headaches, hypertension, excessive eating, | | | | holidays are not a happy time which brings in |
| insomnia, anxiety... | | | | despair and depression. |
| | | | |
| To make sure the "camel's back" is not yours | | | | What do you do with these extra feelings and |
| there are several things you can do: | | | | emotions? |
| | | | |
| 1. Maintain your physical balance. To an | | | | 1. It's more important than ever to maintain |
| already challenged world, holidays simply | | | | healthy eating habits. It's unfortunate that |
| bring on additional challenges which make it | | | | the cookies and cakes are often associated |
| easy to lose control of one's physical | | | | with the holidays. Minimize foods high in |
| responses to stress. For instance, it might | | | | sugar, candy, coffee, sodas, and refined |
| sound silly, but we forget to breathe deeply | | | | flour products like most baked goods... These |
| after we race a stranger to a parking space; | | | | foods and drinks tax your endocrine system |
| we hold onto muscular tension after we rush | | | | magnifying your emotional reactions not to |
| from store to store; and we hold onto | | | | mention add pounds to your body over the |
| vascular tension after we beat the yellow | | | | holidays. |
| light. | | | | |
| | | | 2. Maintain healthy sleep habits. It's |
| Why is holding onto these tensions a problem? | | | | tempting to squeeze twenty-eight hours into |
| Answer: Simply because it increases our | | | | twenty-four hours to get in all the shopping |
| chances of having unhealthy responses to | | | | and the responsibilities handled. |
| stress. To maintain your physical balance, | | | | |
| constantly remember to do deep breathing--it | | | | 3. Remember for the reasons mentioned above |
| helps your whole body to relax. Yes, do lots | | | | that the holidays are not a happy time for |
| of deep breathing while you rush from store | | | | everyone. |
| to store, after the race to the parking spot, | | | | |
| after the rush through the yellow light... | | | | 4. Before you emotionally react, remember to |
| Then double check as you are rushing about to | | | | take a deep breadth and then count back from |
| see if your shoulders are hunched and tense, | | | | ten to one. This simple basic technique is |
| or your jaw tight. Take a deep breadth and | | | | very valuable for managing emotional |
| relax them. | | | | stressors and may keep you from a useless |
| | | | disagreement. |
| 2. Maintain your emotional balance. Holidays | | | | |
| bring additional exposure to emotional | | | | 5. Watch your consumption of alcohol at |
| stress. You just had a disagreement with a | | | | holiday functions.--don't use the holidays as |
| sales clerk, missed the last game you wanted | | | | an excuse to become inebriated. |
| to buy for your son, can't figure out what to | | | | |
| get for your significant other... And of | | | | 6. Resist the temptation to use credit cards |
| course there's the ongoing everyday stress at | | | | excessively. Establish a budget to plan your |
| work. | | | | expenditures and finances. |
| | | | |
| Let's add to all of this the stress of the | | | | 7. No need to be Super Man or Wonder Woman. |
| family gathering. For some this brings on a | | | | You are only one person--it's ok to say "no" |
| challenge to get along with certain family | | | | to friends, family, and work associates if |
| members. Remember that the time exposure is | | | | fulfilling their requests interferes with |
| limited to a few hours or days at most. Yet, | | | | your exercise, eating, sleeping, financial |
| let's not sell yourself out--no need to grin | | | | status, and peace of mind. |
| and bear it. Remember, if there are | | | | |
| uncomfortable feelings, avoid getting into | | | | 8. If you find yourself being "under the |
| blaming or rehashing the past--it's finished | | | | weather," pamper yourself, take time off, |
| and over. Simply speak only from your | | | | take extra vitamins, and especially stay away |
| experience. Know that any negative feelings | | | | from sugary foods, baked goods, sodas... |
| you have are owned by you and are a result of | | | | |
| your perceptions. It's a good idea to agree | | | | These eight tips will go a long way to |
| to disagree as you may never perceive a | | | | helping you thoroughly enjoy the holidays and |
| situation the same as someone else. | | | | manage holiday stress effectively. |