Instead of trying so desperately to satisfy every inflated, yuletide expectation, perhaps we can alleviate holiday stress by redefining what is really important during this time of year.
Emphasize presence, not presents:
Deal with Stress During the Holidays
It is that time of year again; 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. For many this is the most favorite time of the year, but for others it is filled with pressure and stress. My strategy for dealing with stress during the holidays is simple, “do less and be more”.
FAMILY STRESS
The holiday season is also a time when many of us spend time with family members that we may only see once or twice a year. Seeing people that may emotionally charge us is one of the biggest holiday stressors. Before seeing those individuals that cause you stress, take time to do some deep meditative breathing. Think about the situations that may arise and bring you stress, contemplate what you may do differently in this situation instead of your typical reaction to this stressful person. While breathing think about what it is that you are thankful for. By finding something to be grateful for it crowds out other feelings of resentment and annoyance. Another option is to reduce time spent with certain family members if you find it too uncomfortable. Give yourself permission to strongly consider this.
LESS IS MORE
When we over-do we spread ourselves too thin and we are left feeling frazzled. It is easy during this time of year to fill up your schedule with every holiday party that you are invited to. Commit to less events and the truly enjoy the people at the ones you attend. Being with friends, family and co-workers at this time of year is what the season is all about anyways.
HOLIDAY SPENDING
With the marketing promotions out there it is hard to resist spending and buying. There is no reason to finance your holidays for the next six months, which will inevitably cause more stress down the road. Be reasonable with holiday spending. You can also tell your children/family members that you are setting a limit on spending for each because that is the responsible thing to do. You can ask them what type of gift(s) they would like within your holiday budget. This also gives them choices. Keep in mind that you are demonstrating financial responsibility and boundaries to others and avoiding later debt and stress.
GIVING TO THOSE IN NEED
Please remember the ones who are truly in need of holiday cheer this time of year; don’t forget to donate to local charities. If you feel moved to help feed the hungry in metro Detroit, Gleaners Food Bank, a wonderful organization allows for online donations. http://www.gcfb.org There are many hungry people that will not have the spread of holiday foods we may take for granted.
Above all, this holiday season to take time to be present to all of the wonderful people in your life; time passes by much too quickly. Enjoy the time that you do have with those in your life that bring you joy.
Blessings to you and your families,
Donna Marie
Help Your Body Deal with Stress Too
Its that time of year again when stress has slowly begun to creep into many people’s lives. While stress can sometimes be a good thing, and can push you to get many things done in an enjoyable way, there are many hidden negative stressors that can affect your life on a day to day basis.
It is important to begin to work on dealing with stress early on, so that you can limit your stress, and thereby enrich your life. Here are a few simple ways that you can deal with your stress!
To begin with, you need to nourish your body. Choosing to eat healthy foods, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and drink lots of water. Choosing healthy foods are one way that you can help your body deal with stress. Consuming foods or drinks high in sugar or processed materials puts extra pressure on your body, making it hard for you to deal with the daily hurdles in life. Take care of your body, and it will take care of you!
The next step on your low stress journey is to let go of things happening in and around you that are outside of your control. Many people spend hours every day worried or anxious about decisions others are making that may or may not have any affect on them. Essentially, these are worries about things that are completely out of your control.
Choose to let go of these worries and insecurities, and trust that the universe has a master plan for you. This can be comforting. Knowing that we will discover this path on our journey through life can be a wonderful way to deal with stress, and an ideal way to go into each day with a positive outlook on life.
The next part of your life to analyze is how you are spending your time. Are you surrounding yourself with activities and a job that gives you pleasure? Do you enjoy your social life? If so, wonderful. For many, however, they find that the added tension in their workplace or social life can be the last straw!
If your job is holding you back, then work towards finding another one that excites you. Take up a hobby, explore an old passion. Join a new club or group about a topic you always wanted to learn about. All of these things will allow the tension in your life to melt away.
So, to recap. Nourish your body both in and out. Let go of things that are outside of your control. Find exciting new activities to supplement your life, and remove old ones that might be bringing you down. Step by step, you too can deal with stress in your life.