Easing stressful days with good planning
Donya Betancourt, Pediatrician, drdonya@hotmail.com
During this time of the year, a lot of people suffer from stress so we will discuss ways to ease stress out of your life so you can enjoy your holiday season as you deserve to.
The first step is to plan ahead; develop a calendar of specific days for shopping, baking or visiting family or friends. Set a budget before you go shopping and decide how much money you can afford to spend on gifts and other items and then stick to your budget.
Try to make the holiday season more of a family occasion and less materialistic. Learn to say no. Believe it or not, people will understand if you're unavailable for certain projects or activities. When you are sure of what you want and if you say yes only to what you really want to do, you will avoid feeling resentful and overwhelmed.
Acknowledge your feelings; if you don't have a loved one with you, accept it. If you are really sad about it, seek support from family members, friends or community services that can provide you with support and companionship.
Be realistic about families changing and growing, traditions may need to change as well. Hold on to those family rituals that you still can, like a special food or holiday activity but understand that some traditions, such as everyone gathering at your house, may no longer be possible. Accept family members as they are. Set aside old grievances or discussions about differences until a more appropriate time.
Don't feel pressured to eat or drink more than you're accustomed to just because it's the holiday season. Before attending social events, decide how much and what types of foods and beverages you should consume.
Get plenty of sleep and schedule time for exercise. Instead of resolving to change your whole life to make up for the excesses of the last month, try to return to your basic life patterns and routines. Choose resolutions that help you feel valuable and provide more than brief moments of happiness.
Commit yourself to a healthier lifestyle and make small, easy changes toward that process.
Life is unpredictable, so accentuate the positive and concentrate on being thankful for the good things in your life. The kids may decide dinner is more fun to throw than to eat so forget about perfection because life is not always easy and it is never perfect.
While you may not have time for a silent night, at least spend some quiet time alone. Spending just 15 minutes a day by yourself may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Find a quiet place, even if it's in the bathroom with earplugs. Take a walk at night and stargaze. Lie on the couch and stare at the ceiling.
Listen to soothing music. Find something that clears your mind slows your breathing and restores your calm. Be happy, enjoy every moment of your life and your family. Wishing you a happy holiday season and a happy New Year.