Coping with Holiday Stress

The holiday season has begun and your already busy schedule just became more demanding.   Preparations of the family traditions that create the magic you want your family to experience take a lot of time.  When you are stressed to the maximum it is very difficult to stop and assess your mental well-being.  You just know that you are tired, angry and resentful of the demands you believe are expected of you.

Before you reach that burn out point Mayo Clinic has twelve steps to keep your holiday brighter.

1.      Acknowledge your feelings. Don’t force yourself to feel happy just because it is expected.

2.      Seek support. Don’t be a martyr.  Call your friends and family when needed.

3.      Be realistic.  Let go of old traditions and make new ones that are more compatible to your current lifestyle.

4.      Set differences and grievances aside until after the holidays.  Try to focus on the positive rather than the negative.

5.      Stick to a budget.  You can’t buy happiness.

6.      Plan ahead. Write those lists and cook some of the meals ahead of time.  If traveling you may want to mail your gifts before you leave to make sure they arrive on time.

7.      Learn to say no.  Everyone has their limits.  Know what yours are and set the boundary.

8.      Don’t abandon healthy habits.  Good self-care will keep you healthy and happy.

9.      Take a breather.  Make time to replenish yourself and your spirit.

10.  Rethink resolutions.  Try to make small goals that are attainable so that you can see your progress.

11.  Forget about perfection.  You are not a television program that displays a perfect ending to the story. 

12.  Seek professional help if you find yourself persistently sad and anxious.

The holidays are meant to be enjoyed and remembered by all family members.  So try some of those ideas to help you manage your stress.  It will be the best present you ever gave yourself.

 

An Attitude of Gratitude

 

 

 

Thanksgiving is usually a time when families will reflect on the blessings that they have in their life.  Despite the gloomy attitude on the economy and general dissatisfaction with the way things are going 96 % of voters feel thankful according to a recent 2011 Fox News poll. Research is also reporting that we could all live a healthier lifestyle if we would practice being grateful everyday. Grateful people take better care of themselves and engage in more protective health behaviors like regular exercise, a healthy diet and annual physical examinations. 

Daily thanks 

Practicing gratitude leaves people feeling joyful, strong and with more energy. If we can make a conscious effort to find something positive in every situation you can decrease your stress and face the obstacles in life with optimism. Living in the moment and being grateful for what you are experiencing now will give you a better quality of life. From boosting your mood to improving relationships research shows that being thankful is good for your health. 

Kent State University published a 2011 study in the Journal of Happiness authored by Steve Toepfer. The study revealed that if you take 15 minutes, three times over three weeks to write letters of gratitude to someone that your level of happiness and life satisfaction will improve with each letter written. Toepfer explained, “We are all walking around with an amazing resource, gratitude. It helps us express, enjoy, appreciate and be thankful and satisfied with a little effort. We all have it and we need to use it to improve our quality of life.” 

Model gratitude 

To encourage this positive thinking, write in your ‘grateful journal’ 5 to 10 things you are grateful for.  Try and acknowledge new experiences each day that brought you joy or peace.  Make a conscientious effort to be polite to everyone you encounter.  Even a simple “thank you” can make someone’s day brighter. Lend a hand to others and teach children how to give back to their community. Ask other family members to share what they are grateful for each day.   

Some individuals will limit themselves by experiencing life with a sense of entitlement and being preoccupied with materialism.  Self-reflection of your life journey can stimulate awareness of how truly blessed you are and leave you with insight on how to appreciate those around you.  So in a time when there are so many people out of work and struggling to pay their bills discover the blessings in your life. Counting your blessings doesn’t just cheer you up it can improve your health, energy level and perspective on life.