Avoiding Holiday Stress
- Communicate. If you are having a hard time or feel overwhelmed with other people’s expectations or the commercial aspects of the holidays, try to find someone to talk to. If you can’t turn to a friend or family member, there are many counselors and clergy people who are available for temporary counseling during the holidays.
- Make time for yourself. Take 15 minutes each day to devote to yourself. Read a poem, take a bath, sit quietly, breathe and meditate, or do some simple stretches. In the midst of trying to please everyone else, take a moment to tune into your body and your emotions. Give yourself some well-deserved love and nurturing.
- Eat well and often. While we aren’t asking you to deny yourself your favorite holiday treats, it’s a good idea to stock up on healthy choices in between. Don’t skip meals if you’ve overindulged the day before. Eat protein and a serving of vegetables or fruit at every meal and snack. Drink a lot of water to help your body detoxify. Remember that Christmas is only a day — you don’t need to go on a month-long celebration.
- Take a complete multivitamin. This is especially important this time of year. For more on the enormous healthful effects of a well-rounded supplement, please see our articles on health and vitamins.
- Set yourself a bedtime: Studies have shown that adults consistently need 7-9 hours of sleep for optimal brain function and mood regulation. If you know you are going to be out late, schedule an early night the next night. Or set a bedtime that you can stick to whenever you are home — regardless of what needs to be done.
- Limit alcohol. If you are feeling symptoms of hormonal imbalance, try to reserve alcohol for very special occasions. Alternate an alcohol drink with sparkling water at parties. Avoid eggnog, holiday punch, and champagne because of their high sugar content.
- Get moving. Park your car a good distance from the mall entrance and walk. Take several trips back and forth to stow shopping bags and you will have accomplished a good portion of the recommended 30 minutes a day of activity for health. If you are currently exercising, make it a priority. Exercise is one of the best ways to fight stress by boosting metabolism, leveling out cortisol, and increasing endorphins.
- Fight the urge to spend indiscriminately. Most likely the gifts you remember from your past were not the most expensive, but the most meaningful. If you don’t leave everything until the last minute you can take your time to create a unique handmade gift or treat. Or, shop wisely and purchase an item that truly reflects your relationship with or the desires of the recipient.
It’s all about how you feel
The key is to listen to your body and tune into your emotions, particularly when you are experiencing a period of increased external stress — like the holidays. Make sure to replenish your own cup before pouring out your largesse. If you feel happy and well while doing what you do, by all means pursue it with gusto. If you don’t feel good, you need to look beyond the surface to figure out why.
Obviously balance is a year-round goal; it’s just harder to maintain it through the holidays. If your holidays wipe you out, experiment with some of the things we’ve discussed. Enact a few changes and see if you feel better. Hopefully by the time Christmas day rolls around, you’ll be as cheerful and radiant as the lights on the tree.