10 Ways to Manage Holiday Stress
I can hardly believe we are amid the Holiday Season! Where did the time go? Although the holiday season is a time for joy and celebration, it can also be a time of added stress. Whether you are traveling to visit family or not, the Holiday Season is so busy and it’s easy to get caught up in the hub bub and not take time for our own self-care so that we can enjoy the end of year celebrations and connecting with those we love. The commercialism of the holidays and expectations of family time or gift giving can be overwhelming and it’s important to give yourself permission to step back and take a break from the busyness.
Here are some ideas
- Go for a walk – sometimes just increasing movement and going for a walk focusing on being present, can-do wonders for reducing stress. Over the past month I’ve been focusing on increasing movement and am pleasantly surprised that I’m now averaging over 10,000 steps a day compared to the 5,000 I was doing, just by taking more walks.
- Take a bath, soak in a hot tub or visit a Hot Springs – I’m lucky to live in Central Colorado where I have half a dozen hot springs not far from Salida. See my article on the hot springs near me and plan to visit.
- Cooking for a group – I love making casseroles and salads for larger groups, they are easy, delicious and creative. See my recipes for Baked French Toast, Chorizo Potato Egg Bake and Pomegranate Holiday Salad. And better yet, ask for help! People usually like to help and it’s fun to create food together.
- Sleep – I cannot say enough about this! Sleep is very underrated and the lack of it, can be a source of chronic stress leading to host of illnesses. Turn off the TV and electronics an hour before bed. Listen to meditation music for sleep or insomnia, there are many on YouTube. I take a homeopathic remedy for sleep that does wonders.
- Give the gift of experiences rather than material things that may or may not be used or discarded along with packaging that fills up our landfills. Overspending can be a big stressor. What gifts do you have that you can share with your community of family and friends? I love to cook for people and that’s my gift to them.
- Spend quality time doing outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, snowshoeing, or skiing. We need the Vitamin D that the sun provides and the fresh air to keep us healthy since we spend so much time indoors in the winter.
- Connect in ways that fill you up emotionally – We all have different love languages and if you don’t know what yours is, read the book “The five love languages” or intuitively think about what you gravitate to. Do you like gifts? Do you like spending quality time with people? Are you a hugger, touchy feely person? Do you need to hear people compliment you? Or do you like to do things for people?
- Weight management – don’t wait until January to start the dreaded diet and exercise regime that usually lasts about 6 weeks. Instead, implement small changes that will help you get through the holidays without gaining weight and form healthy habits now that can last a lifetime. I focus on savoring every bite and chewing my food well, eating smaller portions, eating enough protein (60 grams a day), eating healthy fats like Olive Oil and Avocados, drinking enough water (half my weight in ounces per day), eating more vegetables (1/2 the plate is veggies), moving more even if it’s just walking, and limiting my indulgences to the holidays. And by holiday I don’t mean the 31 days in December, the holiday is just that, a day, just one day. So, I put leftovers in the freezer and save them for another day so that I balance healthy days with calorie laden days. It’s far less impactful to have 3 higher calorie days in a month spread over time than it is to eat them 3 days in a row.
- Meditate – ok I know, it isn’t for everybody but sometimes just giving my mind a break by just being and not thinking about the past or future or all the things I must get done, can be replenishing.
- Write a letter – the Old-Fashioned way by pen and paper. There’s something cathartic about writing with pen and paper. A couple of my friends send quick thank you cards after I’ve hosted a get together and it’s always so personal, and heartfelt. Knowing that someone took the time to put their thoughts on paper makes me feel loved.
What are the ways you handle stress during the holidays? What are the ways you connect or show your love to others? Drop me an email or post a comment on my website and let me know how you manage stress.
