Alleviating Holiday Stress
The holidays are a wonderful time to come together with our families to create memories that will last a lifetime. Don't let the stress and the hectic pace of this time of year overwhelm you and detract from the true meaning of the holidays. During this time of year staff at Senior Solutions and the Caring Workplace like to take the opportunity to share some tips that can help minimize stress for the holidays:
Minimize, minimize, minimize. Create a budget, keep a calendar and don't overbook yourself. If we live excessively over the holidays, we can end up paying for that throughout the year.
Set realistic expectations for yourselves and others. Most of our holiday gatherings do not resemble a Norman Rockwell painting, so remember that. Have a positive attitude but be realistic. The perfect holiday gathering is within your reach, it just depends on how you define it.
Understand what you can control and what you cannot. Family dynamics do not magically change this time of year, and while we cannot control other people's behaviors or actions, we can control our response.
Make sure you get plenty of rest. It is a busy time of year and it is easy to overdo it. The same goes for eating healthy, it is easy to overdo it when it comes to food and alcohol because we justify that "It's the holidays!" but try to avoid that mindset and maintain a healthy diet.
Ask for help. The holidays are about helping out our loved ones, and when there are people around you who can help alleviate your stress, don't overlook this.
Maintain a healthy exercise routine. It is important not to neglect this even though it is such a busy time of year. Your physical health affects your emotional health, so prioritize this.
Take time for yourself each day. The holidays are a time that we spend focused on giving. But the fact is that if we do not take time to reenergize ourselves each day by doing something we enjoy we deplete ourselves of the mental and physical energy we need.
Acknowledge any feelings of sadness or stress. The holidays are difficult for many people. In addition to the general stress of the season, there are often loved ones we miss. In sharing your feelings with others, you may find they are going through the same thing and you can be of comfort to each other and find ways to honor the loved ones who aren't present, and create new traditions with the family that is around you.
Don't forget the love and laughter. No one will remember that the turkey was dry, that you forgot to put out the cranberry sauce, or that they didn't get every present on their wish list this year. They WILL remember the laughter you shared, and the love you feel for each other. Make sure that is your focus, now and throughout the year.
For more information contact your Caring Workplace Eldercare Specialist, Heather Spindler at 314-802-5106 or via email at [email protected].