The holidays are usually full of expectations and pressures.  You have your own personal expectations like a happy holiday for your family.  If you have to travel to visit family or friends during the holidays then you might have the stress of travel.  Not to mention the inherent stress of visiting with family, yours and your extended.  (BTW: Not all stress is bad stress.  Yes, visiting with family can be fantastic and fun and you may certainly look forward to it every year, however it still places a stress on your body that you may not be aware of.)

Then here is of course the financial stress of the holidays.  Not everyone can afford their children’s entire wish list, the diamond earrings or Rolex watch they want to buy their spouse, nor can they contribute to the abundance of charities that they want to during the holidays. 

What about stress related to all of those social obligations around the holidays?  Just how many hands can you shake before your smile begins to fade and you just want to go home and curl up on the couch? 

What does all this stress do to your body?

Chronic stress can raise your cortisol levels and weaken your immune system.  This instantly makes you more likely to get colds and the flu, not to mention more serious problems like heart disease and diabetes.  Stress also affects your ability to get a good nights sleep, which is extremely important for your bodys ability to regenerate and stay strong. 

And unfortunately, when we’re dealing with holiday stress we also tend to make unhealthy decisions.  We don’t get as much sleep as we should, we don’t do the exercises, and we don’t eat the things that we should.  All those cookies, dips, chips, and yummy drinks become more than an occasional indulgence; they can become a habit during the holidays – a habit that makes us sick. 

So how do you combat all the stress?

The easiest thing to do is to use stress management tools and techniques during the holidays.  Things like yoga, meditation, and journaling are proven to reduce stress.  However these may not be for everyone.  Consider taking a walk outside every day because getting a bit of fresh air, no matter what the weather, is an excellent way to center yourself and release some of your stress.

If getting outside is just not possible, say you live in Alaska and winter means 70 degrees below zero, then join a gym and walk on a treadmill or around a track every day.  Exercise is critical to keeping your body, and your immune system strong, and it has been proven that exercise reduces stress.

Get Enough Sleep - Stress can send us to bed for days if we let it.  It’s a safe place where we can avoid all of the stress that is weighing us down.  Set a regular sleep schedule and stick to it.  Doctors tell us that we need 8-9 hours of sleep each night.  Plan for that. Go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning.  It could significantly improve your body’s ability to handle stress.

Another thing you can do to help ease stress is ask your friends and family for help - You don’t have to do everything yourself.  Involve your family in completing household chores including meal preparation. 

Schedule activities - Planning ahead eliminates much of the stress surrounding the holidays.  When something is on your calendar your life is much more predictable and structured.

Don’t be afraid to say no - You don’t have to go to every celebration.  You don’t have to participate in every holiday activity in your community.  You don’t have to take every drink or appetizer offered to you (okay I admit, that’s a tough one). Think about whether you really want to do something before you say yes.  If you can’t say no or are uncomfortable saying no, then say maybe later.

Plan time off for yourself - Planning time off for yourself is important all throughout the year but it is especially important during the holiday season when activities, commitments, and responsibilities can seem overwhelming.

Planning time off for yourself doesn’t have to mean a weekend trip to Fiji, though if it does then go for it!  Time off can mean taking a Saturday afternoon to read a good book in front of the fireplace.

Shop online - Shopping stresses people out.  Too many people, not enough sales people willing to help and everything seems so expensive.  You can eliminate this stress by shopping online, you can get pretty much anything you can think of online these days, and usually cheaper than at the local mall.  Just check out the huge selection of stuff at online superstores (you really can find nearly anything, see the search box below). 

This can work for holiday cooking too.  Not everyone wants to or has time to cook full holiday meals for their gatherings.  Thank goodness many markets, standard and organic, now offer full holiday meal catering! 

Change your habits - If you find that a significant amount of your stress comes from a specific area, assess what you can do to change the situation.  For example some people have a tremendous amount of stress around holiday travel.  A simple solution would be to decide to stay at home this holiday.  Yes, some people may be disappointed however it may be the best decision for you and your family and you may find that they’re willing to travel to see you this holiday season. 

Have fun! - Laughter is the greatest stress reducer on the planet and the holidays are full of opportunities to laugh.  Spend time with friends that make you feel good.  Plan a romantic date with your spouse or partner, or take your children out for a day of fun.  Children are always good for a laugh.  When in doubt, rent your favorite comedy, sit back and enjoy yourself.  Life is too short to let a little bit of stress ruin your holidays.

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