Does the hustle and bustle of the holidays stress you out?
By Bruce Trimble with The BridgeWay
The rates of depression and stress are known to increase during the holiday season. Here are five tips to keep your stress levels down if Jolly Ole St. Nick delivers you some holiday blues! After all, the holidays should be a time to create everlasting memories with family and friends.
- Acknowledge your feelings. If you have lost a loved one around this time or the holidays brings back memories of a loved one who is no longer here, realize it is ok to feel sadness and grief and those feelings are normal.
- Do not over-schedule. Taking on too many tasks can lead to exhaustion and fatigue. Learn to say no and to delegate. Do what can be done and save the rest for another day. Besides, you will need your energy to enjoy the time you spend with your family.
- Do not isolate. If you are feeling down, get out of the house and find places and people who will make you smile.
- Plan ahead. Set aside specific dates and times to do shopping. Also, try creating a shopping list so that important ingredients are not forgotten when cooking your favorite meal!
- Get up and get moving. The best thing you can do for yourself is to be active. Spend more time exercising. Take a nature walk or a run along a beautiful trail. It’s good for your heart and your mind!
For more info – contact The Bridgeway.
