6 Ways to Survive the Holidays Physically and Emotionally
The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes an extra dose of stress and exhaustion for those who are trying to accomplish a monumental amount of celebrating in a relatively short period of time. If the holidays typically find you stressed out and exhausted, there are ways to regain your health and your holiday spirit. Consider these five tips to help you enjoy the holidays in style.
Get Real
No one will truly have a “Martha Stewart” holiday; in fact, Stewart herself has a staff of experts that help her make the holidays merry and bright. Instead of aiming for perfection, try aiming for a dose of reality that allows the holidays to be just what they are. When your expectations become realistic, you won’t be as likely to run yourself into the ground trying to create the picture perfect season for everyone around you. They will never notice the difference. and you will end up enjoying your season much more.
Take Time
When life gets too busy, the simple pleasures of life get lost in the shuffle. After an afternoon of baking or wrapping, enjoy a glass of wine or a mug of cocoa in front of the Christmas tree. Watch one of your favorite holiday flicks or relax to the sounds of Christmas carols. Delight in the anticipation of your children or spend a quiet moment with your spouse, savoring the peace of the holiday. Those small, simple moments help you refocus on what is really important during the holiday season.
Help Someone Else
It doesn’t have to be big and it doesn’t have to take much time. Spend an afternoon visiting with residents of a nursing center or baking some cookies for your neighbors. Adopt a family for the holidays or make a donation to your local homeless shelter. The act of doing for others gives you the chance to be thankful for what you have. Involve the whole family to make the entire holiday more meaningful to your clan.
Talk to a Friend
When the stress of the season starts to get the best of you, grab a friend for coffee or lunch. Most women find that an hour or two with a friend is much more effective – and cheaper – than a regular therapy session. Just be prepared to return the favor when your friend calls up completely frazzled. Those dates are guaranteed to be beneficial for both of you.
Get your Rest
No matter how busy the holidays get, never sacrifice your sleep if you can help it. Sufficient rest helps to recharge the body, strengthen the immune system and even prevent us from the typical holiday overindulgence. When the temptation arises to stay up late to wrap gifts or bake cookies, remind yourself that nothing is more important to your health. Then check back to the first tip in this article and readjust your expectations accordingly.
Exercise for Energy
Amidst all of the gift wrapping and meal prepping, you may find yourself with little energy to exercise. However, it’s important to still exercise during the holiday season. Even working out for 15 minutes can give your body the energy boost it needs. Even better, keeping your exercise routine helps boost your immune system to fight away cold-weather viruses and bugs, not to mention burning all of those extra eggnog calories!
The holidays are a time for friends and family, but they can also pack more stress than you want in your life. By following these tips, you can celebrate the season in style and enjoy it to the fullest.
