Managing Holiday Stress

Managing Holiday Stress
By Jeannine Virtue, Fri Dec 9th

Holidays are the time of year to seduce the senses and bolsterthe bonds between family and friends. But even the hardiest ofrevelers can succumb to holiday stress. Fret not, you wearyholiday warriors. Below are tips for managing holiday stress.These holiday stress tips include ways to stay organized, waysto volunteer your time, decorate, shop, cook, and even writecards - all the while making your health and happiness toppriorities.

Time Management Tips to Minimize Stress: Stress and depressionoften go hand in hand. It is estimated that 10 percent of thepopulation experiences depression triggered by stress. You canminimize these unwanted effects by controlling time spent onholiday chores. -Set limits. Don't try to do everything in oneday or one weekend. Map out your holiday schedule, decide howmuch you can do at any given time and stick with it. Don'tforget to ask for help if needed. -Take time for yourself. It'seasy to get burdened with a to-do list but while writing downyour To-Dos, remember to pencil in time for relaxation and dailyrest. Complete a crossword or Sudoku puzzle. Take a walk, a napor a long, hot bubble bath. These little mental and physicalbreaks are quick pick-me-ups that will rejuvenate you. -Helpothers. If you have the time, volunteer. If you have the money,cut a check. Helping those less fortunate than you can lift yourspirits and remind you what the holidays are about. Suggestedorganizations include the Arthritis Foundation's Jingle BellRun, the Marines Toys for Tots Foundation, Meals on Wheels, oreven helping the Red Cross with the hurricane victims. Youravailable time and/or money will dictate whether your benevolentefforts are small or grandiose. -Remember what's important.Holidays are about family, friends and your religious beliefs,not about who got what gift. Take part in events that make youfeel good and say no the others. -Skip the holiday spirits.Alcohol, a depressant, can dampen your mood. It can affectsleep, increase stress, and exacerbated existing medicalconditions. -Laugh out loud. Remember to enjoy yourself. Infact, make it the number one priority. Laughter is excellenttherapy for holiday stress. Even giggles can relax muscles,boost circulation and help dissolve stress. -Make compromises.If time is getting the best of you, skip the card writing.Instead, multitask your holiday well-wishes. Grab yourhands-free headphone and call your friends to wish them happyholidays. Talking to friends and family will boost your spirits.If you still want to send cards, get printed ones to save time.-Don't create a financial burden. Don't cause added worry andstress by overspending. Simplify gift giving. Ask family membersto do a grab-bag gift exchange. Or forego the gift exchangealtogether. Enjoy less expensive entertainment by driving todecorated houses or going to free concerts.

Tone Down the Decor: Twinkling lights and poinsettias sprinkledthroughout the house and home do wonders for the holidayspirits. However, doing the "Christmas Threw Up On My House"type of over-decorating will push you over the edge. Here are afew tips to help the Griswald in you from going overboard. -Goartificial. You can buy an artificial tree with the lightsalready attached. Places like Wal-Mart and The Home Depot willput a tree together for you. To spruce up a room, use artificialwreaths, garland, poinsettias, and holly branches. They won'tneed watering and won't drop needles, which saves time onmaintenance and clean-up. - For many people, going artificial isalmost sacrilegious. If you must have a live tree, take thestand with you. Ask the handler to set the tree in the standthen load and go. -Lay on lights. If you're lighting theoutside, use the ones that lay like a blanket and drape themover bushes and trees. - Better yet, check your local paper forpeople advertising to string your lights for a fee. This serviceis becoming quite popular as time becomes more valuable. If youcan't find a company to string your lights, hire a neighborhoodboy or girl to do the job. -Hang together. If you're having aget-together, ask everyone to bring a decoration for the tree.The tree will be trimmed in no time. -Seek simplicity. Gominimalist. Try a grouping of candles at different lengths.Switch your regular couch pillows with holiday ones.

Ways To Work In Your Workout: Between stuffing the bird andtrimming the tree, life gets a bit busy during the holidayseason. Don't let the holiday crunch take its effect on yourexercise regime. Your workouts will help burn the extra caloriesyou will most likely consume and it will also help ward off theseasonal depression and stress. Here are a few ways to get yourexercise in; - Take three 10-minute workouts during the dayinstead of trying to chisel out a full 30 minute workout. A 2004study published in "Medicine & Science in Sports" showed thatthree 10-minute runs during the day actually resulted in moretotal calories burned than a single 30-minute run. -Exercisewith a friend. If you exercise with a friend, you're more likelynot to break your commitment. Use the time to catch up, vent,release stress. -Walk during your child's sport event. Walkingaround the gym or field during your child's sports practice orevent will help you burn more calories than sitting on thebleachers. -Don't park near the door. Whether it's at home orthe mall, parking further away can help. Those additional stepsdo add up during a day of shopping.

Managing the Diet During the Holidays: Avoiding high calorieholiday foods is often difficult. But don't have post-holidayregret by overeating now. Follow these simple guidelines toavoid temptation. -Set sensible goals. Set a realistic limit onhow much you will eat and drink before you go out. Limit yourvisits to the buffet table and how many items you'll get.Remember to praise yourself afterward for keeping your promises.-Eat in before you head out. Eating a healthy meal before youleave home for a holiday party will prevent you from overeating.You'll also be able to focus on family and friends. -Don'tmingle near food trays. Try to stay away from tables loaded withhors d'oeuvres or candies and snacks. -Bring your own. See ifyou can bring a veggie tray or something else nutritious for youto snack on. -Inform gift-givers. Let family and friends knowthat you do not want food as a gift. If they ignore your wishes,you can always give the foods to a homeless shelter. -Just say"No." It may be difficult to do, but if the host offers youseconds, politely but simply decline their offer. -Remove foodaltogether. Instead of meeting friends and family at a home, trygetting together at a holiday concert, theatre, museum, orsporting event.

Shop Smart to Relieve Holiday Stress: Instead of walkingaimlessly from store to store, follow these do's and don'ts sogift browsing doesn't lose its luster. -Do browse at home. VisitWeb sites or review catalogs of your favorite stores. Make alist of items you want to purchase, call ahead

to see if theitem is in stock, and have the salesperson hold it for you.Better yet, order by phone or online and save yourself a trip.-Do map it out. If you are going to numerous stores, set acourse of action and stick to it. List where you need to go andwhat items you need for each store. -Don't procrastinate.Joining the mayhem of Christmas shoppers between Dec. 10 andChristmas Eve will only add to your stress, and you'll probablyspend a lot of time on your feet in long lines. You should planahead, start early, and shop at a leisurely pace. Stores areless crowded early or late on weekdays. -Don't shop the mall.Scarce parking spots and long lines can make the mall a verystressful and unfriendly place. Try to visit main street styleshops or open air shopping areas. Parking is usually plentiful,you can visit multiple shops, and you can get some fresh air inbetween. -Don't lose your cool. Don't beat yourself up if youcan't find exactly what you are looking for. Remember, it's thethought that counts.

Managing Mealtime: Although a home-cooked meal is probably atradition at your home, long hours over a hot stove can take itstoll. Cut down on cooking time and holiday stress by starting afew new traditions. -Offer a buffet. Why lug all the dishes fromthe kitchen to the table? Make it a buffet. Line up plates,food, then utensils and napkins. Your guests will enjoy nothaving to mess with utensils while filling up their plates.-Make it a potluck. Why do you have to do all the cooking? Askfriends and family if they can bring a certain dish to share.-Go disposable. Washing dishes doesn't have to be part of thetradition. Use disposable and inexpensive cooking tins. Dixie'sStoneware even offers decorative dining plates and bowls. -Orderout. Leave food preparation to someone else. Local caterers andgrocery stores can provide dishes or entire meals.

Go Online For Gifts This Holiday Season: This year, shop in yourunderwear to sidestep holiday stress. Shopping on the Web savestime and energy that's traditionally spent schlepping from storeto store. It's never been easier to find a rare collectible or asweet sentiment to send to someone over the holidays. Onlinegift guides and Web-based catalogs provide a clearing-house ofgifts that allow you to bookmark a gift idea to come back tolater. This further simplifies online searches and purchases.Comparison shopping is much easier online too so aside fromsaving time, you may also save money by hitting the Web insteadof hitting the mall.

Finally, just remember to do what you can to prevent stress fromwrecking your holidays. Remember to stop and rest, especially atthe first sign that you've overdone it. Be sure to enlist helpif needed. Taking time to relax, whether it's listening to musicor soaking in a hot tub, will help you better cope with theholidays. And above all, have a happy, healthful and blessedholiday season.

About the author:Jeannine Virtue is a freelance writer and mother of an AttentionDeficit teen. Visit the Attention Deficit Disorder Help Centerat http://www.add-adhd-help-center.com for information aboutsafe and effective alternatives to Ritalin, Adderall or otherADHD medications.