Managing Your Stress During the Holidays and Beyond: Tip #12 – Less is More

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the message of consumption during the holidays. Not only gifts, but decorations, food, drink, social events, etc. The idea of more, more, more is all around us.

Remember that simplicity is a good rule of thumb, at this (or any time) of the year. Also think of what the mindset of having more, doing more, and being more is doing, not only to your attitude, but also to your wallet. What will all this “more” that you create now do for you in the coming weeks and months? Is that a price you’re willing to pay? Now think of what cutting back a little now will do for you both now and in the long run.

The choice is up to you. How much more (or less) are you going to create this holiday season?

Managing Your Stress During the Holidays and Beyond: Tip #11 – Rest and Be Merry

What good are you going to be to anyone (including yourself) if you run yourself ragged? One thing we sometimes do when there is more to do is forego sleep to get it all done. But when you sacrifice rest, it can have some significant and undesirable consequences. You can become irritable, lose your focus easily, have difficulty completing tasks, be more vulnerable to illness, and the list goes on.

Do yourself a favor and make it a point of getting your optimal amount of sleep each night (from 7 to 9 hours). If something has to go because you just have too much on your to-do list, find something else to sacrifice.

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