Beat The Holiday Stress

Most of us have stress around the holidays. For some it’s the sort of stress caused from being more busy than usual with the extra shopping, cooking, and the extra expenses. Most feel they do not have enough time or enough money to do what needs to be done. Everything seems to be getting faster each year with technology and every year there seems to be the gift that is in demand and often loved ones are scrambling trying to find it before it sells out. This year it seems to be electronic devices like the iPad, to buy a Kindle or some other electronic device. Also last minute shopping can cause stress. If you order a gift online getting anxious ans stressed out because you’re worried that the golf girl golf clubs that you ordered isn’t going to arrive in time for Xmas giving is stress too. The thing about this type of stress is that can soon be alleviated. For others they have lots of time on their hands. They are not rushing about, buying gifts or baking Xmas cookies. As a matter of fact many are alone with their memories, their thoughts and emotions. This is what can create the stress in their lives. A lot long for the life they once had, and miss those that they have lost. Each Xmas there’s millions of people that find they are in totally different circumstances to the holiday season the year before. There’s been divorce, loss, financial problems, health issues, lost jobs, and a number of other challenges that can bring on the holiday blues and certainly cause stress. So what can you do to beat the holiday blues/stress? • Try not to dread the holiday before it even comes. • Do things differently. • Find things that do work, remember the rule spend 20% of your time on the problem and 80% on finding the solution. • When change is inevitable you need to stop fighting it and be willing to give it a chance before you get too upset about it. • Help other and you will help yourself. • Take care of yourself. Eat healthy, exercise, get fresh air and adequate sleep. • Reach out to others. Be willing to let others help you too! • If you are sad allow yourself to grieve for a little while and then move on. We need to be realistic and accept that change will happen. The kids will move out, they may not be home every Xmas. The family traditions will change. Parents will get old and need more help. We get older too and sometimes taking a vacation in the sun may be the answer to your holiday blues. A common problem for couples is trying to keep everyone happy. They fell pulled in too many directions and as you’ll already know it doesn’t work. You can’t have dinner in 2 different places at the same time, so what can you do? If it’s geographically possible you could try to arrange that everyone get together in one place. This is something that we have done in recent years. My son and his wife invite everyone to their place for dinner. Both sets of parents, siblings and any kids go to their home. It has worked well because there is no more having to take it in turns. Everyone takes a dish towards the traditional holiday dinner. A other solution is to do Xmas a week earlier, then everyone can come and not have to be stressed about the actual Xmas day plans. For those on their own it’s always a good thing to get together with other singles. I know a lot of people that do this. Everyone will take a dish and they have their dinner together, they have company and a usually pleasant day. Then there is helping others that are worse off. Feeding the homeless, visiting people in hospitals, or visiting the elderly that are on their own, it doesn’t have to be the same tradition year after year. Maybe it’s time to try something new!