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The holiday season often brings two unwanted guests, stress and depression. With a dizzying number of holiday demands peace and joy can be hard to find
Not all of the stress of the holidays is interpersonal. It can also be a real challenge just to get everything done. Here are five more tips for dealing with the stress caused by the hectic pace of the holidays.
6. Make a schedule and stick to it. Take a moment to consider the things you need to do and the time you have left before the holidays. Then pick the best days to complete a task: one day for baking, one day for shopping, one day for cleaning, and so on. It is far better to list your tasks and check them off one by one than to try to do everything all at once.
7. Make a budget and stick to it. You don't want to paying for gifts you bought in 2010 when you retire in 2035. It is always better to buy gifts with the money you have now. If it is a life-changing gift, then make a point of saving up for it throughout the next year. Don't try to buy love with gifts—there is unfortunately always a higher bidder.
8. Don't abandon healthy habits, especially with your diet. If you are on a diet for weight loss or diabetes, in particular, you don't want to cause yourself months of problems by eating too much. If the food you want is “forbidden,” then consider if there are other foods you don't enjoy as much that you can leave out. And remember that it is always easier to diet to correct the effects of eating a slice of pie than it is to correct the problems caused by eating a whole pie, a piece of candy rather than a box of candy, and so on.
9. Take a time out. If you feel the stress of the holidays becoming too much to handle, take a breather. Schedule even five minutes by yourself free of distractions to recharge, reorient, and start again.
10. Set aside differences and disappointments. It's a rare holiday that is perfect. If you experience friction with people or frustration with gifts and holiday events, note them and move on. Life is too short to spend it on rehashing differences and disappointments.
The holidays don't have to be a time to dread. With planning and positive thinking, everyone can find something to enjoy this time of year.
6. Make a schedule and stick to it. Take a moment to consider the things you need to do and the time you have left before the holidays. Then pick the best days to complete a task: one day for baking, one day for shopping, one day for cleaning, and so on. It is far better to list your tasks and check them off one by one than to try to do everything all at once.
7. Make a budget and stick to it. You don't want to paying for gifts you bought in 2010 when you retire in 2035. It is always better to buy gifts with the money you have now. If it is a life-changing gift, then make a point of saving up for it throughout the next year. Don't try to buy love with gifts—there is unfortunately always a higher bidder.
8. Don't abandon healthy habits, especially with your diet. If you are on a diet for weight loss or diabetes, in particular, you don't want to cause yourself months of problems by eating too much. If the food you want is “forbidden,” then consider if there are other foods you don't enjoy as much that you can leave out. And remember that it is always easier to diet to correct the effects of eating a slice of pie than it is to correct the problems caused by eating a whole pie, a piece of candy rather than a box of candy, and so on.
9. Take a time out. If you feel the stress of the holidays becoming too much to handle, take a breather. Schedule even five minutes by yourself free of distractions to recharge, reorient, and start again.
10. Set aside differences and disappointments. It's a rare holiday that is perfect. If you experience friction with people or frustration with gifts and holiday events, note them and move on. Life is too short to spend it on rehashing differences and disappointments.
The holidays don't have to be a time to dread. With planning and positive thinking, everyone can find something to enjoy this time of year.
- Hairon N. How Christmas festivities and pressures can damage health and well being. Nurs Times. 2008 Dec 16-2009 Jan 12,104(50-51):33-4.