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Anxiety and Depression - Natural Antidepressants for Mood Boosting
Millions of people, especially in the United States, are
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In August, here in the mountains of southwest Virginia, the trees acquire a dull sheen that signals the end of summer. Heralded by the Dog Days of summer, it's a melancholy, bittersweet season. Daytime temperatures may soar, the humidity is...
New Year's Resolution: Walk Your Way Fit!
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Salsa dancing is emerging as a refreshing replacement for conventional aerobic exercises. Classes based on the fiery music and movements of Salsa, Mambo, Cumbia, Merengue and more are starting to get people interested in Salsa dancing, while at the...
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Coping With Holiday Stress
The holidays are upon us and instead of leisurely sipping eggnog
around the fireplace, we find ourselves in a frenzy trying to
get all too many things done in anticipation of that one
perfect, albeit elusive holiday moment.
Despite expectations, holidays are a time when many of us end up
so stressed and overworked, the joy is completely lost.
Nonetheless, the holidays really should be about family,
friends, renewal, and even fun.
As we all know, achieving any dream is not magic, it is mostly
hard work. It is worth it though, otherwise we wouldn't go at it
so hard year after year. A little bit of balance and planning
can go a long way toward de-stressing the holidays and making at
least some of those holiday dreams a reality. Here are some
tactics to help you deal with the pressures of the holiday
season.
Prioritize.
Prioritize, organize and simplify. Sit down and think about your
goals. What do you really want out of the holidays? What do you
need? What does your family want and need? Don't make
assumptions. Talk about it. Needs and expectations change as
children grow and family networks variously shrink and expand.
Disgruntled family members mean stress for all.
Budget.
Establish your budget realistically and conservatively. There is
pressure from every direction to overspend during the holidays.
But spending now with the knowledge you will still be paying it
off this time next year can zap every bit of the joy out of the
season. Be realistic and be honest. Set your budget and stick to
it. Despite what advertisers want you to think, the reason for
the season is not to spend as much money as possible.
Schedule your Time.
Be just as realistic about your time as you are about your
money. Cooking big meals may not be practical. Use convenience
foods or pre-cooked options to round out your holiday table.
Don't be afraid to ask others to pitch in. Do your shopping
online instead of at the mall, and have the gifts delivered.
Realistically decide which invitations you will accept and which
ones you will not. Discuss priorities openly with friends and
family members. Reevaluate and reduce you commitments to bring
them in line with manageable reality.
Remember to Relax.
It is easy to forget your everyday good habits during holidays.
The stress and frenzy of the season can quickly take its toll.
None of us want to be that horrible relative who always manages
to spoil the fun for everyone else. Be consciously aware of your
stress and fatigue levels. Take a deep breath before you fly off
the handle. Learning to keep your cool not only helps reduce the
harmful effects of excess stress on your mind and body, it will
also help keep stress levels down for all those around you and
everybody will be more relaxed and have more fun.
Exercise.
Experts everywhere acknowledge the value of good aerobic
exercise in stress reduction and well being. We all know this
fact, but often forget it during holidays. Don't. Even if it is
only for a few minutes at a time, incorporate physical exercise
into your day. Spend a few minutes on your exer-cycle. Take a
quick walk. Take the stairs. Is there dancing at the holiday
party? Join the fun. It's good for you. Get the idea? Holiday or
no, make grabbing opportunities for exercise a regular part of
your everyday routine.
Watch What you Eat.
Good nutrition is for good health and every day feel-goods. It
is easy to load up on junk during holidays, especially when you
may not have time for real meals and then face lavish party
spreads. The whole process wreaks havoc with your waistline and
your health. You slow down, and your disease resistance is
compromised. As a result, you can end up run down and sick right
in the middle of the festivities. Despite endless yummy
temptations, you do need to make certain your body is properly
nourished. Grab a piece of fruit instead of dipping into that
candy bowl and at the very least remember your vitamins.
Watch your Alcohol Consumption.
Food is not the only holiday temptation. Be aware of
your
alcohol limit and drink responsibly. A season of festivities can
be draining in more than one way. Pace yourself, especially if
you have a round of parties to attend. Even a couple drinks can
reduce your energy level the next day, and if you have a heavy
schedule, you may want to go pass on the alcohol altogether. You
can count on a hangover spoiling the next day completely, and if
you have plans with others, it may be more than your own day
that is spoiled. Needless to say, if you are an alcoholic,
holidays are not the time to skip AA meetings.
Get Adequate Rest.
Sometimes easier said than done, since the holidays can be a
true frenzy. There are gifts to buy and wrap, cards to send,
parties to attend, parties to throw, houses to clean, meals to
cook and in the middle of all this, most of us still have jobs
to do, kids to take care of and families that need our
attention. Just thinking about it can make you tired, but
fatigue and overwork impair judgment, and shorten tempers. It
will wear you out physically and emotionally. And the lovely
holiday you were working so hard to create can be dashed by hurt
feelings exacerbated by stress induced snipping. Don't be
ashamed to take a nap. And don't be ashamed to admit that you
need one. Quiet relaxing moments may need to be scheduled. They
are essential to your well-being and to a happy holiday season.
Practice Realistic Acceptance.
In all this welter of do's and don'ts, realize there are some
things (and people) you will never be able to change. You will
be a lot calmer if you can realistically accept, what is
unchangeable. Holiday get-togethers are not the place to vent
over past wrongs.
Emotional Well Being.
Attend to your emotional needs. For many reasons holiday
occasions often reopen old wounds. We all experience loss in our
lives, and the season can make a recent divorce or death in the
family seem unbearable. Take active measures to take care of
yourself. Go to your place of worship. Attend to your
spirituality. Although it may sound quaint today, attending a
religious service can be very healing. Beyond that, talk about
what bothers you. Vent your rage. If for whatever reason, you
cannot talk about it to a friend or family member, get a
therapist or call a telephone counseling line. There is a free
one in most cities. Keeping a journal is one of the oldest forms
of therapy, and it too is free. Attending to your emotional
needs does not mean spilling your guts at the holiday table, it
means finding a safe place for support and using it when needed.
Make Peace with Yourself.
This is not a luxury, it t is a necessity. Time-honored methods
of nourishing body and soul include; prayer, yoga, meditation,
Tai Chi and devotions. On a daily basis, it is one of the best
things you can do to maintain both your serenity and your
sanity. Even if you only have a few minutes to do it, make peace
with yourself every day.
Remember, no matter what day you celebrate, the holiday season
is indeed a season. Prepare to take care of yourself throughout.
Schedule time to exercise and relax each day, even if it is only
for a few brief moments. Be aware of other's needs as well. Be
especially aware if anyone close to you has suffered a great
loss in the recent past. In many ways the holidays, which are
widely heralded as times of great joy, are also times of great
sorrow. That too can be overwhelming. Take deep relaxing breaths
when you feel emotions rising or tempers flaring. Above all, do
not take everything personally. Realize that under stress (and
yes the holidays are stressful) people often say things they
normally would not. Do not let them get to you and you will all
feel better for it. Take care of yourself and the ones you love.
Have a peaceful stress free holiday.
Copyright 2005 Regina Pickett Garson
About the author:
Regina Pickett Garson edits and publishes Magic Stream
http://www.magicstream.org -- which is among the earliest online
self-help and wellness resources. She teaches at Virginia
College in Huntsville, Alabama.
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