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HRMC Foundation:
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Stress Less This Holiday Season
Do you embrace the holiday season with ease? Or do you go into survival mode? It's normal to feel at your wit's end when you need to shop for gifts and wrap them, attend multiple holiday functions, and make travel arrangements or prepare for your own holiday gathering. To top it off, there may be family squabbles along the way.
If you're one to let the holidays get the best of you, make a change this year and try a few tactics for reducing stress. You may just give yourself a chance to enjoy the season.
Plan ahead. Make a budget and stick to it so you don't go overboard on spending – debt is a leading cause of stress. Make a gift list or ask for suggestions before you go shopping rather than drain time and energy searching for "perfect" gifts. If you have a large extended family, drawing names can simplify gift exchanges. Take a day off work to shop if you need to.
Seek assistance. If you're hosting a holiday gathering in your home, don't be afraid to ask others to share an appetizer dish or bring some holiday treats. Many guests like the opportunity to contribute something. If the thought of cleaning your entire house brings you down, give yourself a gift and use a professional cleaning service.
Maintain healthy habits. Getting plenty of sleep, eating right and exercising are important year-round, but especially during the holidays when temptations abound. Eating or drinking too much can add to stress and regret – enjoy holiday indulgences in moderation.
Be realistic and focus on the meaning of the season. Don't focus all your attention on one day and accept that the day may not go as planned. Enjoy the season in bits and pieces when possible – take a family walk or drive and look at holiday lights, contact an old friend by phone rather than send a mass-mailed holiday letter, bake some cookies and share them with co-workers or neighbors.
During the holiday season, keep this in mind: You can grin and bear it – or you can choose to do something that will truly make you smile.
If you've lost a loved one, have financial constraints, live far away from your family or have tension with family members, the holidays can be extremely tough – especially when everyone else appears to be preparing for "perfect" celebrations.
Letting go of feelings of sadness or loneliness is not easy, but these tips may help:
- Accept your feelings. Rather than keep emotions bottled up, know that it's OK to cry or express your sadness. Seek support from friends, family or a professional counselor, if needed.
- Give yourself something to look forward to. A great way to lessen holiday depression is to plan something exciting to take place after the holiday season, such as a trip. This will give you something else to talk about when someone asks how you are doing.
- Volunteer to help others. Donating time and companionship to others who may be less fortunate can help lift spirits and heal hearts. HRMC has several volunteer opportunities including working as an Auxiliary Pink Lady, hospice volunteer or HRMC Foundation event volunteer. Visit www.huronregional.org and click on the "About Us" tab or e-mail info@huronregional.org.