Managing Your Stress During the Holidays and Beyond: Tip #18 – Take Stock in Your “Stuff”

Now is the perfect time of year to stop, take a moment, and take stock of all that you have. Sure, some of that might be material possessions (like a house, car, and other “stuff”), but also think of the non-tangible “stuff” you have, like relationships, your health, your attitude, your sense of humor, etc. It’s easy to focus on the negative or what we don’t have. But it’s so much more productive (and stress relieving) to think of all that we have to be grateful for. Make a list of your gratitudes…often. And review it whenever you start to feel overwhelmed by the stresses of the season.

Managing Your Stress During the Holidays and Beyond: Tip #17 – Let Go of the Ghosts of Holidays Past

We’re bound to have memories of some disappointing holidays. Someone said or did something (or didn’t say or do something) the way we wanted. We didn’t get what we asked for. Plans got changed, rearranged, or cancelled. Life (like the holidays) rarely goes exactly as we hope.

But just because the past didn’t measure up to our expectations doesn’t mean we should stop hoping. When we hold on to the disappointments of the past, we don’t have room for the wonderful memories being made now. So make a point of saying goodbye to those old ghosts (disappointments) and make a commitment to letting the joy of the season shine through.

Photo: christmas lights (ii) © by {eclaire}

Managing Your Stress During the Holidays and Beyond: Tip #16 – Plan Ahead

There’s a saying that goes…”those who fail to plan, plan to fail.” While that may be a bit harsh and simplistic, there is some truth to it. From those holiday meals, to gift giving, to all those social events, there’s not a lack of opportunity to plan ahead. And planning can help take some stress off your plate. Here’s some ideas for how to best plan ahead this holiday season:

• Group your errands by location so that you only have to go to the other side of town (or the mall) once.
• Write out your grocery list by aisle, so you don’t have to skim a list of haphazardly written down items and miss something.
• Tell friends and family that in order to attend all the events you want to this season, you can only stay for a set amount of time at their event.

Managing Your Stress During the Holidays and Beyond: Tip #15 – Declare a Worry-Free Holiday

Okay, this one might be easier said than done. But think about how much worrying about the holidays affects you. From your attitude, to your health and well-being. We tend to worry about things that haven’t happened yet (and likely won’t ever happen) and about things out of our control (like what others are going to do, say, or think).

But all that worrying takes a toll, not on WHAT or WHO you’re worrying about…but YOU. Worrying excessively can lead to missing out on what’s going on right now because you’re so focused on the future. It can also lead to sore muscles, headaches, and a slew of other physical issues.

So this season, commit yourself to worrying less and enjoying more.

Photo: Denise Over The Holidays – 2005 © by Rob Boudon

Managing Your Stress During the Holidays and Beyond: Tip #14 – Help a Sistah (or Brutha) Out

The holiday season is prime time for helping those in more need than you. And there’s no shortage of opportunities to lend a hand, give some money, or spend some time helping. Consider volunteering your time and/or money this season. There are so many benefits to volunteering, both to those who receive and those who give. It shouldn’t be hard to find these opportunities. Check with your local churches, hospitals, schools, nursing homes, homeless shelters, etc. Getting involved and helping others can be a great way to lift your spirits, make new acquaintances, and maybe start a new holiday tradition.

 Photo: feeding hungry people is beautiful; it is art © by skampy

Managing Your Stress During the Holidays and Beyond: Tip #13 – Ask for Help

There’s no shame in asking for help when you really need it. Since there always seems to be more to do than time to do it in at this time of year, you’ll probably have ample opportunity to ask for some help in getting things done. Plus, most people like to help and feel needed, but aren’t sure what to do unless you ask them.

It’s best to be specific in your request when asking for help, telling people WHAT you need and the TIME involved. When things are vague, people are more hesitant to say yes. Here’s an example:

Instead of “Can you help me with the holiday dinner?” which is vague and doesn’t tell people what you really need, try “I need help preparing the holiday dinner. Can you cut the vegetables and peel the potatoes? It should take maybe 15 minutes, but would sure save me a lot of time.”

Of course, there could be a lot of things you need help with, from decorating, to running errands, gift shopping, gift wrapping, etc. Pick something and go ask someone to help you with it.

Photo: christmas dinner. © by allison.hare