Every single person on planet Earth has experienced events that cause different types of stress. No one is immune to this intense feeling. But, when the holiday season pops up, so does the level of stress that many experience.
If you have felt any of the following, it's probably safe to say that you are already
* You are overly cranky
* You find it difficult to get a good night's rest
* You are on a weight roller-coaster
* You find yourself more "on edge"
* You feel as if the world is crashing down on top of you
While many of these "symptoms" can be related to things other than stress, we will be addressing them here as if they are created by stress specifically and explain some things you can do to elevate some of it throughout the holiday gatherings, shopping sprees, and other unplanned surprises that are yet to come your way!
Stick To A
This is important for ALL family members, not just you. Everyone needs to have a regular routine, especially children. We thrive on it. And children DEPEND on it! Diverting from your normal, every day scheduled tasks can add unnecessary stress to you and your family. So try to keep up with your routine schedules of eating, sleeping, TV time, and of course play times. With the emotional excitement of the holidays, friends and family members coming for unannounced visits, and social "get togethers", it can be a bit more difficult to stick to your normal daily routines, but it isn't impossible if you have a solid support system (i.e. - a spouse, close family member, or valued friend that is willing to help you "stick with it"). Remember, too, that you can always make small adjustments to your normal routine to fit that day's schedule of "hectic" events, but it will make keeping to your schedule all the more difficult later on.
Ask For Help
It's not as devastating as you might think :-) Actually, it's quite easy! If you
are having a tough time shouldering all the responsibilities that are upon you, just ask someone to help you with them. You could do this by dividing up different tasks that are on your holiday list of things to get done. Of course you'll want to be sure that whatever task you assign to a family member is "age appropriate". Meaning you don't want to give your 10 year old the job of hanging outdoor lights on the roof! So make sure that you delegate these responsibilities as they fit the laborer. If your particular need for help is more of an emotional nature, speak with someone you trust about what you are feeling. Remember, if you are still harboring ill feelings towards Aunt Fanny from 3 years ago, do your best not to bring up any names and just discuss what it is that is bothering you about that particular situation. Otherwise you could just make yourself feel even worse by piling on unnecessary guilt. If you find that you can't discuss these matters with a family member, take time and visit your family doctor. He/She may be able to offer you an outsider's view of what's going on, which can be quite helpful in looking at the situation in a different way. And, if the stressful feelings are causing a more serious problem, your doctor can help.
Don't Strive For Perfection
Nobody's perfect. And nothing can BE perfect, so don't expect that! Do what you can and be happy knowing that you did all you could to make it a wonderful holiday. Trying to create a "picture perfect" holiday gathering can really "sock it to you" in the stress department. Worrying about what you CAN’T do could lead to problematic health issues. And you DON'T want that! The worst part of this is that it can all be avoided by thinking realistically about what CAN be done and not what you feel NEEDS to be accomplished. There is a significant difference between those two. Make a promise to yourself that you will only do what you can without placing too much pressure on yourself to get it all done. A good thing to keep in mind is that YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER ANYONE OTHER THAN YOURSELF. They will do what they do and that's the end of it! If you believe in your heart that you can in essence "teach an old dog new tricks", that is, to try and get a person that is set in their "ways" to behave differently for even 15 minutes, you are headed for heartache. Try not to let the actions of others within your circle of family or friends discourage you from having a great holiday season. People will be who they are and you should learn to let go of any personal expectations of how YOU want the holiday gatherings to be. It won't do anything but add to your own stress levels.
Remember What Makes The
Always keep this thought in the back of your mind: "The Holidays Are A Time Of SHARING And TOGETHERNESS". Understand that this sentence may have a different meaning for each family member or friend depending on events that have occurred in holidays past. The most common reason for this stress inducer is thinking and remembrance. If something pleasant has occurred for someone, that's what they will tend to remember about the holiday seasons. If the person has experienced an incredible loss, then more than likely they will not be in a very celebratory mood. And you shouldn't expect them to be. Take some time to think about what that person might be feeling before you try and bombard them with "good tidings". But, don't let this discourage you from having a happy holiday though. If you have wonderful memories of togetherness, then bring those memories forward in a way that makes you comfortable without putting others out. Never force your happiness onto someone that has suffered a devastating loss. Allowing each individual to have their own version of how they celebrate, or not celebrate, the holidays can really reduce your stress levels.
Take A Break!
With everything that's going on during the holiday season, it's important to make some time for yourself to relax. Whether it's stopping at the corner Cafe for a cup of Joe, treating yourself to a non-holiday themed movie, or sitting down to a peaceful bite to eat, doing just one small thing to take yourself away from the stresses of the holiday season can be a very helpful mental sigh of relief! In fact, using some very basic relaxation breathing techniques will aid you in releasing stress. Stop whatever it is you're doing, close your eyes, and take in a few deep, cleansing, breaths. You will find this to be very soothing in times of high stress. As the body takes in more oxygen, it reduces the amount of stress hormonal releases within the body, thereby, reducing the physical feelings of stress. If you have time in your busy day, go home and take a short, restful nap. This can help to "recharge" your mental batteries. You could even end your day with a sweet-smelling, muscle relaxing, steamy bath. Light some candles, shut and lock out the world, and retreat to the most private room in your home! Don't have time for a bath? Then how about a nice, hot, cup of chamomile tea? Use whatever common stress-busters work best for you. Just make sure you set aside some time to DO them over the course of the holi-days :-)
Having a wonderful, enjoyable, less stressful holiday season can be accomplished by using the tips suggested here. There are dozens and dozens of ways to fight holiday stress. Stop back for more tips on alleviating holiday stress. I hope that you have a wonderful and memorable holiday season! Happy Holidays!!
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