With Thanksgiving right around the corner here in the United States, I thought that some tips on dealing with Holiday Stress would be a highly appropriate topic today!
When I think of the Holidays, I see beautiful, idyllic images, really, of snow dusted pine trees and icicles spiraling off rooftops and families sitting around tables full of food and love. That is, until about the first week of November… when those pictures start to morph in to something entirely different. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? When you have to wonder what the annual family drama will be (and what effect any potential drug interactions between excessive tryptophan and wine consumption will have on said drama) , what the FDA’s recommended dosage of Mom’s brownies are, when you will have time for the shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc. etc. etc. “The Most wonderful time of the year” is also the most stressful, demanding and utterly harrowing of all seasons for many people.
So, how do we keep those idyllic pictures in our heads and truly enjoy the Holiday season to its fullest? Read the tips below and see if some of them may help you and your family this year.
1. Employ your Creativity – Our culture has tied commerce with the holidays, in a big way. This year, when money is tight for many people, creativity is your best friend. Search your creativity (or the internet) for home-made gift ideas, and make creating the gifts you’ll be giving a new family tradition. The recipients of the gifts will appreciate the extra thought and time (and love!) you put in to making their gift.
2. Remind yourself (many times a day, if necessary) that it is OK to say “NO” – Do not feel pressured by the wishes (or even demands!) of others. Over-committing yourself can increase stress and feeling burdened and resentful. Make sure that when you say YES to hosting the out-of-town relatives or babysitting the neighbor’s kids, that it is something you can reasonably fit in to your life and schedule and that you are truly willing and happy to do it.
3. Random Acts of Kindness – It doesn’t have to be a lot, but giving to others makes us feel better, and can jump-start a down-trodden Holiday Spirit. Weather it is buying the drink of the person behind you at Starbucks, or volunteering at a charity you like, or even dropping a few pennies in the Salvation Army can; you will help the world and your heart.
4. Take a few deep breaths – Remember when mom said “Count to Ten” when you were angry? Well, the grown up version of that is to close your eyes (Except while driving, please and thank you!) and take ten deep breaths. Deep breathing is very therapeutic for stress, frustration, anger and even anxiety. If some – ahem – mashed potatoes hit the fan at the family holiday party, excuse yourself to the bathroom and take a couple minutes to pep-talk yourself, breathe deep and emerge the picture of calm, cool and collected.
5. Remember why you are celebrating – Whatever the reason is for you, keep it in mind, even make a list. Mine looks something like this: Family, Magic, Hope, Joy, Reconnect with Awe! I have found this to be very helpful in maintaining perspective during hectic moments.
Take Care Of YOU
1. Get Enough Sleep - Busy schedules and stress lead to lack of sleep. Make a point of going to bed earlier if you have to, and try to relax for at least an hour of quiet time before bed. This will help improve the quality and restfulness of your sleep. Your body, and your mental health and clarity will thank you the next day, and even for several days to come!
2. Take Comfort in Ritual – When you are doing mundane things like getting out of bed, taking a shower, making coffee or even stuck in traffic; think of things you are grateful for, this can help you improve your outlook for the whole day. By the way – Smiles are contagious!
3. Health & Exercise – Yeah, we hear it time and time again, exercise, exercise, exercise. But really, Exercise is a great way to improve mood and alleviate stress. Exercise releases endorphins, which is short for “endogenous morphine” which is a morphine-like chemical produced by your body that can greatly improve mood, and even relieve pain.
One of the things we don’t always think about as a potential underlying cause of holiday stress and anxiety is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which seriously affects the mood and energy level of many people. SAD surfaces as a reaction to changes in the season, usually during Fall and Winter when there are fewer long, sunny days and more cold, damp and dark hours. If you find that you continue to feel more depressed or anxious throughout winter months, it is a good idea to see a Naturopathic Physician to get assessed for Seasonal Affective Disorder – there are easy things that can really help!
4. Don’t take things too seriously! Stress makes us less in touch with our humor. Keep this in mind, sometimes things that make us upset are not as big of a deal as we think they are in the moment.
5. Do something Fun – Take time off, to do something fun. Laugh, Play, be merry. Relax. Enjoy your family.
My best advice to you is to enjoy a nice fire with some hot cocoa, watch a good movie or better yet, read a good book, and try to keep the cranberry sauce off the carpet!
How do you cope with holiday stress? I want to hear from you!
Happy Holidays everyone!
Rev. Emilyanne Lewis, ATP
