Beating Stress During the Holidays

 

Today I am going to talk with you about how to cope with anxiety and stress during the holidays.  First of all where does this stress and anxiety come from?  For me personally the stress is building because I want to give the perfect gifts to my children and family and I feel this pressure to deliver the perfect Christmas to all.  This imaginary stress is really just pressure that we are putting on ourselves to give and outdo other people’s gifts. 

Now let’s think about this logically, Christmas is about giving not receiving and it is not supposed to be a time when you are anxious, it is supposed to be relaxing, peaceful, and happy time for family.  But let’s get real, we live in a modern world where the holidays are the opposite of relaxing.  We are stuck in long checkout lines in crowded malls just trying to make our loved ones happy.  For the most part this festive holiday has become a materialistic day of spending and most people only give because it is expected of them.  Of course we spend money on gifts for our loved ones but there is also the pressure of giving to certain people because it is expected of us.  How can we cope with all this holiday pressure?  What is the solution?  Well I have been thinking on this a lot lately and the answer is going to be different for everyone because many people feel pressure for different reasons. 

Here are some of the best remedies for holiday stress:

Many people are extra stressed during the holidays because they live north of the equator and are borderline (SAD) Seasonal Affective Disorder.  This disorder occurs because of the lack of direct sunlight and this decreases the production of serotonin a feel good chemical secreted in the brain.  To ease SAD symptoms, spend time outdoors or near a window on sunny days and aim to be outside in the fresh air and sunlight for at least 30 minutes each day.  Try to expose your arms if possible as the direct sunlight will help to increase serotonin production.  If you have severe SAD you may require phototherapy (a treatment using a box that emits full-spectrum light).

Certain essential oils have an uplifting effect on mood.  Some of the best essential oils to use are lemon, orange, lemongrass, lavender or clary sage.  These essential oils stimulate your olfactory senses and bring back memories of happy times.  Who can be sad when they smell the invigorating smell or fresh lemons or oranges?  Simply apply a few drops on your palms and inhale or your can rub them into your pulse point for all day aromatherapy.  Try it out see how it can brighten your day. 

 

Incorporating more exercise has been my go to holiday stress relief technique.  During the holiday’s many people stop exercising outdoors because of the cooler temperature but they are doing themselves a great disservice.  Moving your body is one of the best ways to increase production of naturally occurring endorphins, they give your body an exhilarating feeling and also create the release that we are not getting when we do not sweat and exercise.  Get to the gym, go for a power walk, get in a yoga studio or just turn on your favorite Utube exercise.  There are endless options when choosing your preferred exercise method, just make sure to prioritize this because it could be exactly what your body is craving. 

Getting at least 8 hours of sleep is another good way to combat stress.  When our bodies are constantly exhausted, rushing around and sleep deprived it kicks up our cortisol and stress hormones a notch.  Making sure that you get adequate sleep will help you to deal with the extra load of holiday stress.  Be sure to turn electronics off a few hours prior to sleep because the blue light that is emitted from electronics will interfere with your body’s natural circadian rhythms.  Blue light is also something that the sun emits and our bodies become confused when we are constantly exposed to it.  Try to sleep in a completely dark room, in loose fitted clothes with cooler temperatures and no noise whatsoever. 

Incorporating breathing exercises during peak feelings of stress can be a life saver.  When we are depressed or anxious we tend to have shallow mouth breathing as opposed to deep inhalation through the nose and out the mouth.  Remembering to inhale from your nose and exhale from your mouth in slow breathes which will increase the amount of oxygen in your brain and blood and give you an natural sense of relaxation and relief.  Taking 10 slow breathes inhaling from your nose and exhaling from your mouth in even amounts and repeating an uplifting affirmation.  I like to say to myself, “I am inhaling love and exhaling fear.”  Just be sure that your affirmation is uplifting and fitting to your particular situation. 

 

The simple aspect that we have gifts to buy, meals to cook, plays to attend and social gatherings planned each day is a burden to us because we do not have any time to unwind.  Saying no to one event that you really don’t want to attend is a god send.  Don’t worry about disappointing this one person because after all we can’t make everyone happy.  Choose carefully the events that you must attend and others can be skipped.  We are not super humans and saying no can in the end really be a gratifying experience. 

 

Be sure to cook as many nourishing meals at home as possible.  When we are on the go nonstop and eating out our bodies become under nourished and this alone can lead us to succumb to the flu and colds.  This is a very important time to cook warm soups, stews, eating seasonally with root vegetables and hormone free and antibiotic free, vegetarian feed animals.  A good source of fat is also something that our bodies need and crave during this time of year.  Traditionally we were in hibernation mode and it was in our best interest and survival to eat fats, drink warm fluids and rest during the cold winter months. 

 

I hope that these suggestions and tips will help you to have the most relaxed holiday season possible.  Remember that it is so important to take care of yourself during this time of year.  You cannot give if you are not healthy, well rested and as happy as possible.  Giving to yourself is essential at all times of the year.