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Eight Tips to Manage Stress During the Holidays

For some Holiday Stress is a joyous fun time
whereas for others it's figuratively theEmotions of confusion, frustration,
straw that breaks the camel's back. Inuncertainty, and in some cases, anger and
addition to your already ongoing everydayupset  can  pop  up  at  any  time.
stress, the holidays bring extra stress. Thus
you are more likely to suffer from stressAnd 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 yoursWhat do you do with these extra feelings and
there  are  several  things  you  can  do:emotions?
1. Maintain your physical balance. To an1. It's more important than ever to maintain
already challenged world, holidays simplyhealthy eating habits. It's unfortunate that
bring on additional challenges which make itthe cookies and cakes are often associated
easy to lose control of one's physicalwith the holidays. Minimize foods high in
responses to stress. For instance, it mightsugar, candy, coffee, sodas, and refined
sound silly, but we forget to breathe deeplyflour 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 rushmagnifying your emotional reactions not to
from store to store; and we hold ontomention add pounds to your body over the
vascular tension after we beat the yellowholidays.
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 ourtwenty-four hours to get in all the shopping
chances of having unhealthy responses toand  the  responsibilities  handled.
stress. To maintain your physical balance,
constantly remember to do deep breathing--it3. Remember for the reasons mentioned above
helps your whole body to relax. Yes, do lotsthat the holidays are not a happy time for
of deep breathing while you rush from storeeveryone.
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 totake 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 andvery 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 emotional5. Watch your consumption of alcohol at
stress. You just had a disagreement with aholiday functions.--don't use the holidays as
sales clerk, missed the last game you wantedan  excuse  to  become  inebriated.
to buy for your son, can't figure out what to
get for your significant other... And of6. Resist the temptation to use credit cards
course there's the ongoing everyday stress atexcessively. Establish a budget to plan your
work.expenditures  and  finances.
Let's add to all of this the stress of the7. No need to be Super Man or Wonder Woman.
family gathering. For some this brings on aYou are only one person--it's ok to say "no"
challenge to get along with certain familyto friends, family, and work associates if
members. Remember that the time exposure isfulfilling 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 grinstatus,  and  peace  of  mind.
and bear it. Remember, if there are
uncomfortable feelings, avoid getting into8. If you find yourself being "under the
blaming or rehashing the past--it's finishedweather," pamper yourself, take time off,
and over. Simply speak only from yourtake extra vitamins, and especially stay away
experience. Know that any negative feelingsfrom  sugary  foods,  baked  goods,  sodas...
you have are owned by you and are a result of
your perceptions. It's a good idea to agreeThese eight tips will go a long way to
to disagree as you may never perceive ahelping you thoroughly enjoy the holidays and
situation  the  same  as  someone  else.manage holiday stress effectively.



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