3 Tips for Managing Stress This Holiday Season

Just in time for the holidays, I wanted to share some tips for managing stress. What is it about the time of year that is meant for joy, peace, thanksgiving and love that brings the claws out in some family members? There are so many reasons! Have no fear though because here are a few things you can do to manage the stress of this holiday season:



1. Be prepared to park your anxiety/stress in a safe place. - write down what is stressing you out and carry it with you. Set aside a time in your day to assess your stress. Decide if your stressor is a BIG DEAL or LITTLE DEAL. If it's a big deal, you have more work to do. If it is a little deal, you know the stress/upset may fade away before the ink dries on it.

2. Engage in a relaxation activity - for those BIG DEAL stressors, you may need to do some breathing exercises. I recommend the Calm App because it's easy to access on your smart device. In the event you cannot download the Calm App, engage in an activity you find relaxing. (Examples: light a candle in a dimly lit room and take in the silence while listening to your breathing, take a warm bath, turn off notifications on phone or put phone on vibrate and take a 15 minute fast from your phone, take a walk in the cool crisp air or listen to music you enjoy that is calming)

3. Draft a list of talking points - sometimes the only way to manage stress is by dealing with the problem head on. So, be prepared. Write down talking points for a short discussion. Or write a letter to the family member who may be the cause of your stress. You may not need an objective "ear" prior to you having a chat with your family member or writing a letter to your family member. But, if you do, see a therapist. This is a sure way to help you learn additional tools to manage your stress and prepare you for the holiday.

Enjoy!