HOW TO MiNIMIZE HOLiday Stress
The holidays are a busy time for all of us with extra shopping, decorating, cooking, and party planning, etc. I’d like to share some of my favorite tips to make the holidays more enjoyable and less stressful.
1. It is especially important to keep up with your normal self-care routine. If you don’t have one, we need to talk. It is your best defense against stress all year long, but even more now. Exercise, get enough sleep, stay well hydrated, eat healthy, meditate, and spend time outdoors.
2. Make a TO DO list.
3. Ask your family to help with the extra tasks and make it fun. Get the kids in on making cookies, decorating the tree, shopping, wrapping, etc.
4. Change your perspective. Instead of thinking that stress will cause anxiety, think of the blessing of spending time with those you love for the holidays.
5. Plan ahead. Procrastination causes stress. Get an early start on the things you can do that will put you in the Christmas spirit like decorating and listening to Christmas music. Make part of the meal ahead of time and freeze it. Buy dessert instead of making one.
6. Keep expectations realistic. If something doesn’t go as well as you wanted, use it as an opportunity to look back on as a funny memory…. Like remember the time the dog ate the turkey, or the cat knocked over the gravy and stained the new Christmas table cover?
7. Practice gratitude.
8. Choose to be positive even if you must celebrate with that relative who is always critical.
9. Visualize everything going according to plan.
10. Seek professional help if you need it.
I am a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach. I not only help clients lose weight and keep it off, I also help those with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and autoimmune conditions figure out the best way to eat to reduce pain and inflammation. I am also dual certified in Life Coaching and can help with other areas such as relationship issues, physical activity, spirituality, social life, home environment and much more. Explore this website to learn more, and visit my Facebook page where I post health tips and recipes. If you are interested in a free consult, complete the questionnaire on this website and we can schedule a time to talk about your goals.
Happy Holidays!