Monday, December 16, 2013

It’s Holiday Season – More Stress!





Enjoying a relaxed meal with family and friends is more in keeping with the holiday spirit than creating a fancy
production that leaves you stressed and irritable.

The holidays are often a time for celebration with family and friends. But for many, especially busy working moms, the holidays result in only one thing – more stress! When you add all those holiday-related tasks to a daily routine that’s already hectic – you have all the makings of a major holiday meltdown!

And then… there are the expectations of holiday fun and frivolity with family members near and far. For many, these family get-togethers quickly dissolve into bickering, bantering and out-and-out hostility!

So… what can you do to limit that stress and really enjoy the holidays?

• If finances are a problem this year – you are not alone. Give hand-made gifts or bake some holiday treats. Budget a set amount for gifts and stick to it! Agree with friends and family members that this a good time for everyone to “take a year off.” Or better yet… give the gift of a memory – plan a special outing with those on your gift list!

• Don’t over-indulge in drinking, eating, spending or late nights. You’ll pay for these over-indulgences and could pay dearly in terms of your health.

• Start a new family tradition of giving to others. Participate in your church’s “Giving Tree.” Give a “Toys for Tots” gift. Give an anonymous gift to a family in your community who may have fallen on hard times or lost a family member. Help fill up a food bank – or volunteer at one! Giving of yourself is the best gift – for you and others too.

• Exercise – 30 minutes is all it takes to help you de-stress. And… it’s great for releasing endorphins – those incredible “feel good” brain chemicals!

• Keep it simple – no need to go “over-the-top” and elaborate. Your friends and family would rather have you relax with them instead of rushing around or obsessing over your menu in the kitchen!

• Relax. No one and nothing is perfect. You’re human. You’re one person. Resolve to try not to be all things to all people and to take care of you this holiday season!

One way to take care of you is to recognize that the three types of stress – emotional, physical and chemical – are at an all-time high during the holidays. It’s important to have your spine checked to correct subluxations so you can have a healthy nervous system that easily “shakes off” that extra holiday stress. We’ll be looking for you!

Monday, December 2, 2013

Avoid Holiday Stress!



Plan ahead so the pressure of the holidays doesn't make you blow your top!

It's not too early to plan ahead if you want stress-free holidays this year! For many people, holidays aren't relaxing at all and mean lots of extra things to do which creates lots of extra S-T-R-E-S-S! Here are some suggestions to help you manage stress around the end-of-the-year celebrations and relax so that you, and those around you, can enjoy festivities:

1. Set realistic expectations: Don't expect that this will be the year that everyone comes together and gets along if it hasn't happened in the past 10 years! We tend to imagine the holiday we long for, and forget that may be an unachievable dream.

2. Accept your limitations: You cannot be all things to all people so stop trying. Know when to say "no."

3. Take extra special care of yourself: Maintain balance in your eating, sleeping, drinking, and exercise habits. Do something you like, just for you!

4. Find some time to help others: Volunteer in a nursing home, food pantry or hospital and bring some holiday cheer to someone less fortunate. Brighten someone's day when they least expect it with a "random act of kindness."

5. Create healthy traditions for your family: Read a new book, go caroling, see a new holiday movie, anything that involves spending quality time with your loved ones.

6. Focus on the spiritual, rather than material: Remember the reason why we celebrate the holidays in the first place and focus less on all the glitz and the trappings.

7. Stay out of family arguments: Or better yet, try to be the peacemaker and listen without being judgmental. Practice effective communication—listening.

8. Watch frivolous spending: Don't try to outdo other family members with expensive gifts that you will have to pay for later. Better yet – make a gift that comes from your heart!

9. Remember you cannot change other people: You are the only person you can change. If you don't like what someone is doing, create space between you and that person.

10. Have fun: It can be affirming to be surrounded by family. Enjoy it.