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How to Prevent (or at least better manage) Holiday Stress

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The holidays are supposed to be peace & joy. But, realistically, they’re often something like stress & recoup (with some fun bits). Follow these tips to make your holiday season more It's A Wonderful Life and less National Lampoon Christmas Vacation.

1. Reframe: If your mind immediately becomes overwhelmed by the lack of routine and holiday chaos, try to think of it as a welcome break from the everyday and an excuse to be return to childlike joy. An optimistic outlook will help you cope with challenges that come your way.

2. Be Realistic: You’re not going to be able to reproduce your favorite holiday and you can never please everyone, nor will you ever achieve perfection.

3. Say No: It’s better than attending an event stressed for time, or resentful. A disingenuous yes can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed.

4. Plan Ahead: Set aside specific days/times for shopping, cleaning, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus before making your shopping list.

5. Ask for Help: Don’t be a holiday martyr. Not only will that ruin your fun, but it will affect the enjoyment of those around you. Trust that your loved ones would rather help, than see you stressed. Also remember, the tone you set is more important than the amount of cookies you bake.

6. Food as Fuel: Eat breakfast before guzzling coffee or tea and add honey for instant energy and healthy antioxidants (the darker the better). Use citrus to boost mood and alleviate stress. Studies have shown even smelling citrus can raise levels of norepinephrine, a hormone that affects mood.

7. Be Understanding: Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don't live up to all of your expectations. They might also be feeling the effects of holiday stress and possibly SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

8. Acupressure: The fleshy place between your index finger and thumb is called the hoku spot, or “The Big Kahuna” in traditional Chinese medicine. There is an important accupressure spot between the thumb and the pointer finger. It helps ground nervous energy and can relieve headaches and neck pain (note: this should NOT be used while pregnant). With your index finger and thumb, apply firm pressure to the webbing between the thumb and index finger of your other hand. Massage the pressure point for four to five seconds, taking slow, deep breaths.

p.s. The following infographic was sent to me by Andrea Sieger. It deals with an extra layer of holiday stress, the sharp longing for our departed loved ones. It was created by a woman named Dominee, who can be found at www.blessingmanifesting.com.

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