Managing Your Stress During the Holidays and Beyond: Tip #10 – Pencil in Some “Me” Time

Don’t accept every holiday social invitation you receive. It’s tempting to want to please everybody and not hurt others’ feelings. But if you spread yourself too thin, it’s you who is going to suffer.

Give yourself some evenings off to relax, enjoy some down time, and take in the blessings of the season. It’s okay to take a break. And it might just be the best “present” you could receive this holiday season.

Managing Your Stress During the Holidays and Beyond: Tip #9 – Tickle Your Funny Bone

One of the best kept secrets in stress relief is the power of laughter. Laughter helps us by:

• Providing a physical release of tension. Have you ever felt relieved, lighter, less stressed after a good laugh? That’s because your body automatically tenses and releases several muscles, from your abdominals, shoulders, etc. This tension and release allows our bodies to let go of physical tension, which can lead to a release of emotional tension as well.
• Distracting us from the seriousness we can get focused on when we’re feeling stressed. Have you noticed that when you are overwhelmed or stressed you get more serious?
• Connecting us with others. Laughter can be contagious and create an instant bond between strangers, acquaintances, or friends. Studies show that the more connected we feel with others, the better able we are at dealing with stressful situations.

Where will you find some laughter this holiday season?

Photo: laughter © by gagilas

Managing Your Stress During the Holidays and Beyond: Tip #8 – Get Social

It’s the perfect time of year to take advantage of increased social activities. From cultural events to holiday activities, there’s always more to do. And that means more opportunities to be around people. Being around supportive family members and friends is a sure way to ward off any feelings of loneliness or isolation, and have some fun in the process. And you might even make some new friends too. Check your local events calendars to see what’s going on in your community. Then make a plan to get out there and be social.

Managing Your Stress During the Holidays and Beyond: Tip #7 – Uphold (or Create) a Tradition

Holiday traditions can be passed down from generation to generation, from cookie recipes, to decorations, to how you give and receive gifts. But not all traditions are ones we want to keep alive or pass down to our children. Take a look at the traditions passed down in your family and keep the ones that fit with who you are today – ones that light you up and promote the spirit of the season. Then, if you like, you can add your own traditions to the mix. Traditions can include:

• activities that you do each year, such as caroling or attending a theatrical performance
• foods, from how you prepare them to how you serve them
• the decorations you use
• volunteer work

What tradition will you uphold (or create) this year?

Photo: IMG_3145 © by scanlime

Managing Your Stress During the Holidays and Beyond: Tip #6 – Stick to a Budget

Before you go shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend on gifts and other items, and then stick to your budget. If you don’t, you could feel anxious and tense for months as you struggle to pay bills.

Don’t try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Try some alternatives to keep yourself on financial track. Donate to a charity in someone’s name, consider giving homemade gifts, or start a gift exchange to limit the number of gifts you must buy. Some people even choose to forego expensive gift giving and opt for memory-making activities, like mini-vacations.

What creative way will you find to stick to your budget this year?

Photo: Dollar © by Images_of_Money

Managing Your Stress During the Holidays and Beyond: Tip #5 – Unplug the Technology

Despite popular belief, the world will NOT end if you turn off your phone(s), computer, television, and other electronic devices to enjoy some real human interaction. Even if all you do is spend some quiet, uninterrupted time with yourself and your thoughts, it will be well worth it.

While technology has its place in our day-to-day lives, it can interrupt the joy of the season. Do yourself a favor and step away from the technology, if even for just an hour or two. Read a book, take a walk, cuddle in front of a cozy fire, sip some hot tea or cocoa. And enjoy!

Plug © by Samuel M. Livingston