Beat the Stress This Holiday Season
Raise your hand if this year has brought more stress to your life than you could have ever imagined. If I was a betting person, I would bet that 99% of the people reading this have their hands raised. I know I do.
The holiday season typically creates more stress. The American Psychological Association reports that nearly a quarter of Americans reported feeling “extreme” stress during the holidays. Throw a pandemic in to the mix and I’m sure that statistic will be sky rocketing.
BUT what if I told you that we can make a SHIFT and have control over our stress this holiday season? We can BEAT these stressors with a few key tools. Are you willing to put in the work?
One of the most powerful tool we have at our disposal everyday is our mind and the thoughts that we produce. Having the power to recognize when our thoughts are not serving us in a positive way is a skill that takes consistent effort. It’s not going to be easy, but I am going to share a few things that you can do to start taking control of your thoughts and writing a narrative that serves you well and decreases your stress.
Start your day with gratitude.
Write down 2-3 things you are grateful for. It can be something as simple as “I am grateful for this cup of coffee.”When we start our day with gratitude not only do we set ourselves up with positive thoughts but there is actually neurological processes happening within our bodies. Expressing gratitude creates a chain reaction in which our brain releases dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine and Serotonin are the chemicals that make us feel good.
Take the time to self reflect.
Acknowledge your feelings. It is ok to feel stressed or anxious. It is how we respond to the stress and anxiety that can make or break us. When we focus on the problem or negative feeling, we trap ourselves. When we focus on the solution or the positives, we open doors of opportunity and feel much more productive.
Make a plan.
Making a plan can feel time consuming however when we have a plan, we actually provide ourselves with freedom. Plans help to keep us focused. When a plan is in place we avoid getting sucked in to tasks that aren’t as helpful around the holidays. A perfect example is checking Facebook for “just a couple seconds” and before you know it, you’ve spent 30 minutes scrolling when you could have been preparing for the upcoming holiday dinner. Plans can also help when it comes to financial stress during the holidays. These plans help us from impulse buying or scrambling at the last minute to get something that we need.
Say No!
Remember that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Avoid over committing during the holidays. Often times we feel more inclined to help and give back during the holidays which is great as long as it’s not at your physical, emotional, and mental expense. Saying “NO” does not make you a bad person. It comes down to quality over quantity. You can serve more people and give back at a greater capacity when your cup is filled first.
You. Got. This. And if you feel like you don’t, we are here to help you navigate the holiday stress so you can enjoy this time of year. You deserve it!
Written by: Jackie Giese, Physical Therapist Assistant
