20 Tips to Relieve Holiday Stress by Elizabeth Alsobrooks

     

     Most people look forward to the holidays, but they can also bring a lot of stress and anxiety. Let’s face it, you do your normal routine and on top of that you are expected to shop, organize, plan, and throw or attend parties and dinners. That’s a lot of pile-up on your to-do list. It’s understandable if you find the holidays a little overwhelming. So here’s a list of ways in which you can carve out a few moments of relief and bring that anxiety down a notch.

1. Take a deep breath! There are several reasons women are coached to ‘breathe’ when in labor, and one of them is that they are focusing on relaxing and taking their mind off the obvious reasons for their anxiety.  It can also help take ‘your’ mind off the hundred little things you still need to do to get ready for the holidays and take a little time for yourself.
2. Having taken the time to relax for a moment, remember to give yourself enough time. Don’t try to do everything. Delegate some of your chores and don’t take on more than you can comfortably achieve.
3. Be realistic. Don’t try to tackle too much too soon. Even if you’re a great multi-tasker, you can really only do so much. Focus on one thing at a time.
4. Give yourself some ‘me’ time. Do something you want to do rather than just things you feel you must do. Don’t forget that holidays should be fun.
5. Not only should you learn to delegate with family members, you should also learn to ask for help--or just say no.
6. Exercise! Do some cardio and resistance training. Or take a yoga class. Strong, healthy bodies manage stress and work better!
7. Try to eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, especially around those carb and sweet heavy holiday meal times.
8. Get enough sleep! This is the biggest culprit around the holidays. You don’t have more time, so you rob it from your sleep time. You stay up late getting things done or get up early (think Black Friday?!). Don’t. You will have less stress and even help fight weight gain by getting enough sleep.
9. Talk to your friends or loved ones. The best way to relieve anxiety or solve problems is to talk about them. That’s why so many people see psychologists!
10. Write. If you don’t want to talk to someone else about something, talk to yourself. That’s why a lot of people keep diaries or journal.
11. Be positive. Deliberately. Focus on saying and thinking positive things. It will elevate your mood and boost your morale.
12. Read. The most popular escape from whatever is on your mind is to travel to another world.
13. Be thankful. You don’t need a holiday to focus on things you are grateful for, so count your blessings instead of your problems.
14. Pet a pet! There’s good reasons that service pets exist for people with high anxiety. Even if you only have stress during the holidays, a pet is a great way to  relieve it. Spend some quality time with your pet or visit someone else’s!
15. Go for a walk or play in the snow (if you have some). Fresh air really can help clear your head.
16. Have some fun. There’s nothing like laughing to brighten your mood and relieve stress. Even watching a favorite comedy show will work.
17. Solve a puzzle instead of a problem. You can even put one together.
18. Color! There’s a reason those adult coloring books are so plentiful and popular. And if you’re even more artistic, draw, paint, sculpt, or play music. Sing! Using your right brain helps relieve stress from your worrisome left brain.
19. Smell! Aromatherapy comes in every fragrance you can imagine. Whether you throw some scented oil into a relaxing tub of hot water and soak it up or just light some incense, aromatherapy can quickly influence your mood and help you unwind. That’s why they use it in massage oils, too (and getting a massage isn’t a bad idea either!).
20. Slow down on the caffeine. It may give you a boost of energy, but it can also make you jittery and anxious and prevent you from getting the rest you need at night.

 So relax and enjoy your holidays this year!