Five For Friday: Five Tips to Stress Less During The Holiday

Sometimes, even thinking about the holidays can stress you out. But, lucky for you we’ve compiled five tips to help you stress less and calm down!

Take calm-down breaks. Soon after you awake, close your eyes, take several deep breaths and just relax. Imagine yourself in a beautiful place, think of a happy memory or visualize yourself succeeding at a cherished goal.  In addition, whenever you get stressed out, anxious or feel overwhelmed during the day, take quick relaxation breaks of 1 to 5 minutes to calm yourself down. Conscious, slow breathing can help you when you’re feeling frustrated waiting in line at the supermarket, post office or drug store.

Try to see the bright side. When people try to push their bad or annoying habits on you during this holiday season, tune into their motivations. For instance, before you get annoyed at a family member, who keeps urging you to try their cooking, or your co-worker who seems to be following you around the holiday party, first take a deep breath. Then, step into their shoes and realize that they are just showing that they want you included in the fun. Rather than view your situation with annoyance, be grateful instead.

Get moving. Perhaps one of the best ways to overcome stress during the holidays or any other time is to exercise regularly. Research shows that physical activity not only boosts your fitness and energy levels but can also elevate your moods. In addition, exercise has been found to reduce anger, tension, fatigue and confusion. Despite the many demands on your time, this is not the season to stop exercising. Exercise also can give you that much-acclaimed “runner’s high.” Indeed, research shows that rigorous physical activity of any kind pumps up production of endorphins, your body’s feel-good neurotransmitters.

Go for real foods mostly. Inevitably, at this time of year, you’ll be tempted with sugary, empty-calorie “treats” just about everywhere you go. But to be your most energetic, focused and happy self, it’s best to eat foods that grow on trees or on the ground (vegetables and fruits) and to choose healthy fats (such as olive oil and flax seeds), lean protein (such as fish and organic chicken) and legumes, nuts and seeds.

Be generous. One of the best ways to stay calm, content and cheerful this time of year is to act generously with your loved ones, co-workers and friends. This doesn’t have to mean you’re spending a lot of money. You can be generous with your compliments. You can generously offer to do a loved one’s dreaded errand. You can generously write a fun, short poem. When you are creative with your gifts and thank you’s, people will appreciate your real, heartfelt sentiments.