Holiday Stress Management

With Thanksgiving just barely behind us, the holiday season is here. If you’re like most, there’s a long list of things to do over the next four weeks: decorating, shopping, end-of-the-year work assignments, party commitments and family gatherings. All of these commitments, in addition to your day-to-day responsibilities, can put you into stress overload. While time may be scarce, and relaxation may be the last thing on your mind, managing stress during the holidays is the best gift you can give yourself. Don’t fret, there are some simple ways that you can reduce the stress and strain of the holidays and increase the enjoyment.

Plan ahead. Taking a few minutes to make a list can save you from making multiple, stress-inducing trips to the same crowded stores. Spending an hour planning meals for a week or two and getting all the ingredients at once will allow you to skip the grocery store and the fast food lane. Do as much pre-planning for parties, work projects and other scheduled events as you can and you'll save yourself from last-minute scrambles to get things done. It may seem counterintuitive to spend what little time you have planning, but it turns out that a few minutes of planning can actually save you hours in the long run.

Take time to move. Exercise is important during every season, but it’s especially important now. Cutting out physical activity because you’re “too busy” or “too tired” will only decrease your energy level. Get moving and you’ll benefit from a boost in mood, energy and alertness—and you might even find the crowds and last-minute preparations are less stressful. That energy and stress relief will make tackling long shopping sprees and late night baking marathons easier to deal with.

Eat well. With so much on your plate during the holiday season, it’s easy to forget to eat. And when you do remember, it's tempting to take advantage of quick meals and high-calorie snacks. Unfortunately, not taking time to eat well can backfire. Feeding yourself regularly with high-quality meals filled with complex carbohydrates, lean protein, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats will give you the energy you need to cross off everything on your to-do list. And making healthy decisions when you’re not at a party or sitting down to a huge holiday meal will help to balance out the occasional treats that will inevitably make their way into your diet over the next few weeks.

Use your freezer and slow-cooker. Now is the season for stew, soups, and other hot meals. Head off trips to the drive-thru by planning ahead and you’ll be able to take advantage of pre-made casseroles or hands-off stews, soups or roasts on those nights or weeks when you’re too busy to cook. Spend a few hours making some freezer meals one day during the weekend so that you can just toss something in the oven when you get home. Or take advantage of your slow-cooker and toss ingredients in before you leave for work so that dinner will be ready when you walk through the door.

Get your Zs. When you’re busy writing holiday cards and hitting the Midnight Madness sales your sleep will likely suffer. It may seem like a good use of your time, but cutting your sleep hours to get things done can make your waking hours less productive and more stressful. Do your best to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night, and when that's not possible get as much rest as you can. A well rested body and mind will make everything else on your to-do list more manageable, and you'll find your relatives and the crowds more tolerable, too.

For more tips on how to handle holiday stress, check out this article from MayoClinic.com.

(Photo by shootingstar(is a blur))

Ami writes about her attempts to stay healthy, live a local and green life and write that Great American Novel (or something like it) at Writing: My Life.