handling holiday stress

The holiday season typically brings a significant amount of stress. We feel its presence when we experience fatigue, irritability, insomnia, muscle aches, anxiety and/or a compromised immune system. “Easing up on yourself over the holidays is important because the connection between stress and illness is real,” says Simon A. Rego, PsyD, assistant professor of psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Stress can lead to a number of serious health concerns; including obesity, diabetes, depression, heart disease, psoriasis, shingles, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
The good news is that by following a few practical tips, we can effectively minimize our holiday stress.
1) First and foremost, take care of yourself. Eat healthy, exercise, and get plenty of sleep. Before a holiday party, eating a healthy snack can make it easier to resist overindulging on high calorie food. To emotionally deal with the demands of the holidays, it is very important to keep your body in good condition.
2) When you feel overwhelmed, ask for help from family and friends. Remember that others will be more prone to respond positively to your requests for help if you approach them in a positive and appreciative manner.
3) Be realistic with your holiday goals. It is not necessary for decorations, traditions, gifts and food to be perfect in order to be enjoyable and memorable. Some of the family you hoped would be present at your holiday table may have other plans. Don’t allow their absence to ruin your mood. Decide to have a good time and enjoy those who are present.
4) Try to avoid conflict. This is a time when you want to accept family and friends as they are, setting aside hurts and disappointments. The discussion of grievances is more appropriately handled after the holidays. Try to be patient when others get upset, recognizing that they are probably feeling the stress of the holidays.
5) Decide on a budget and stick to it. Overspending leads to guilty feelings, shame and financial stress. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to buy happiness for those you love.
6) Plan family gatherings and activities in advance and say “No” when you need to. Always saying yes can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. If you can’t participate in every activity or project, it doesn’t make you a BAD person. To the contrary, it may make you a wiser, less anxious person. If it’s not possible to say “No” to your boss’ request to work overtime, try to remove something else from your schedule.
7) When you feel stressed, take some time for yourself. Even 15 minutes without distraction can refresh you; listen to soothing music, take a warm bath, slow your breathing, clear your head, find a way to restore your inner calm.
8) If you need it, seek professional help. When, despite your best efforts to reduce the stress in your life, sadness, anxiety and/or irritability continue to plague you remember Tanner EAP. Tanner EAP is a professional counseling service that is available, at no charge, for you and your family members

May your HOLIDAYS be happy and fun!