In any culture around the world, the holidays are a good reason to party and eat hearty. It’s also a great way to get together with family and friends and reconnect.
Unfortunately, the fun and excitement for the few days of merriment may bring some heartache to you in the future. The holidays can bring a lot of stress to people, and these stress factors can come from many sources.
Health Worries
It’s impossible not to enjoy food once the holidays roll in. You’ve got your feasts at home, at the office, your friends’ house, the bar and so on. The diet certainly goes out the window during the holiday season, and feeling sad about the possible weight gain is understandable.
In an article in the South China Morning Post, Atrium Health researcher and dietitian Lucy Aphramor says that food is closely linked to emotion. Fighting your body’s yearning to eat, makes you unhappy and stressed. Avoid this by taking in small portions of the food laid out. That way, you not only get to eat but you might even be able to try everything.
Exercise
Remember that having a healthy body isn’t just about monitoring what you eat. You also have to exercise, so stick with your routine if you have one. If you don’t, try taking small activities and incorporating them into your talk. Walking for at least thirty minutes, taking the stairs, doing squats or lunges can help.
If you already have an existing health condition, or if your family has a history of it and you know there’s a chance you might get it, find ways not to stress yourself.
Balancing Emotions
Emotions are heightened during the holidays too. These can trigger stress more than anything. It’s easy to say that you have to take it easy and approach things in a relaxed manner, but it’s harder to do.
When you feel like stress is coming on, pause what you’re doing. Take a deep breath, count to ten before resuming. Take a break as often as you need. If there are a lot of things you need to do, ask for help. Your family would most likely be more than happy to pitch in.
Find simple things to make your tasks easier. If you’re cooking, buy pre-cut food and some pre-prepared ingredients to make cooking easier.
Do good deeds
There is a popular saying that “it’s better to give than to receive”, and that much is true. The act of sharing and giving has been proven to lessen the amount of cortisol in the body, a hormone that contributes to stress. Have old but still in good condition clothes? Donate them. Leftover food from the festivities? Bring them to shelters and share.
Money Matters
Financial worries are always stressful, but it can be more so during the holidays. Often there is this pressure of trying to keep up with the expectations of giving gifts and preparing lavish parties. However, if money is tight, don’t push it. Instead, find ways to make it easier on your budget but still allow people to have a great time.
Hosting a party? Suggest a potluck theme where guests can bring one dish to share with everyone. It’ll be a great way for people to show off their cooking skills. Want to give gifts but the list is bigger than the budget? Trim your list down to close family and friends. For everyone else, you can make a card to send, but personalize the message so people will know you still took time.
The holidays are meant to be fun and a time for thanks and bonding. Don’t let stress get the best of you. Take time to appreciate your blessings and you can have that worry free holiday season that you’ve always wanted.
