This was our wellness tip for the week at work… Thought it was worth sharing:
Welcome to the holiday season — that whirlwind of gift-giving holidays, marketing blitzes, holiday parties and activities galore that begins right after Halloween, builds to Thanksgiving, and continues gaining momentum through the end of the year. While this season is meant to bring feelings of love and cheer, it’s also the forerunner of holiday stress for many. In fact, according to surveys, more than 80% of us find the holiday season to be ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ stressful.
What Causes Holiday Stress?
· Doing Too Much
The problem with the holiday season is that we often experience too much of a good thing. Too many activities (even if they are fun) can culminate into too much holiday stress and leave us feeling frazzled, rather than fulfilled.
· Eating, Drinking and Spending Too Much
An overabundance of parties and gift-giving occasions lead many people to eat, drink, and be merry — often to excess. The temptation to overindulge in spending, rich desserts or alcohol can cause many people the lasting stress of dealing with consequences (debt, weight gain, memories of embarrassing behavior) that can linger long after the season is over.
· Too Much Togetherness
The holidays are a time when extended families tend to gather. While this can be a wonderful thing, even the most close-knit families can overdose on togetherness, which can sometimes bring more dread than love to these gatherings.
· Not Enough Togetherness
For those who don’t have these family issues, loneliness can be just as much of a problem. As the world seems to be gathering with family, those who rely more on friends for support can feel deserted and alone.
· Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
An often unrecognized problem that comes with the holiday season is actually a by-product of the seasons changing from fall to winter. As daylight diminishes and the weather causes many of us to spend more time indoors, many people are affected to some degree by a type of depression known as seasonal affective disorder. It’s a subtle, but very real condition that can cast gloom over the whole season and be a source of stress and unhappiness during a time that people expect to feel just the opposite.
How to Minimize Holiday Stress
The great thing about holiday stress is that it’s predictable. Unlike many other types of negative stress we encounter in life, we know when holiday stress will begin and that it does have an end.
· Set Your Priorities
Before you get overwhelmed by too many activities, it’s important to decide what traditions offer the most positive impact and eliminate superfluous activities. Pick a few favorite activities and really enjoy them, while skipping the rest.
· Cut Corners
If you can’t fathom the idea of skipping out on sending cards, baking, caroling, shopping, visiting relatives, and doing all of the stuff that usually runs you ragged, then include all of these activities in your schedule, but on a smaller scale. Find ways to cut corners or tone down the activities that are important to you and your family to enjoy them much more.
· Change Your Expectations For Togetherness
With family and friends, it’s important to be aware of your limitations. Think back to previous years and try to pinpoint how much togetherness you and your family can take before feeling negative stress. For those who experience loneliness during the loneliness during the holidays, consider inviting a group of friends to your home or volunteering to help those less fortunate than yourself and focus on what you have rather than what you lack.
· Set A Schedule
Putting your plans on paper can show you, in black and white, how realistic they are. Start with your highest priorities, so you will be able to eliminate the less important activities.
· Breathe!
Be sure to schedule in some down time, exercise and exposure to daylight (even exposure to natural light through a window pane, can help.)
With a little planning and a few minor but significant changes, this holiday season can bring the love and joy it was meant to bring, and leave you feeling fulfilled rather than overwhelmed.
