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Home and Family > Holidays > 5 Steps for Reducing Holiday Stress
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Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Jodie Foster
You know what it is like to gather with the family and friends
during the holidays. Sometimes these gatherings can be joyful,
exciting and pleasant. Other times they can be filled with
expectations, family obligations and stress. Add to that stress,
the pressure of holiday baking, gift buying and wrapping, travel
arrangements and decorating, and you have multiple layers of
tension.
Here are 5 great steps you can easily do to reduce your stress
during the holidays, saving hours of headaches, tense muscles and
family tension:
- Clean early. Schedule time ahead to get the house cleaned and
organized. Prepare space for any company you may be hosting and
organize your kitchen for baking.
- Make lists. Take the time to write out a list for each family
member and their role in the holiday plans. When everyone has
their own clear list of tasks, tension is reduced. List the
holiday shopping, the baking schedule, the calendar of events,
etc. Pre-planning will save hours of stress and tension that
happens when things sneak up on you.
- Rest. Take little ‘time-outs’ for yourself during the day. If
you have a hectic day of shopping planned, schedule break times
for a cup of tea, a bite to eat and time to rest your feet. If
you’re spending the day cleaning, baking or wrapping, plan 10
minute power naps in between. It will add to your productivity
and you’ll feel more energized to complete the tasks more
quickly.
- Give and Receive. The holidays are about giving and you’ll
spend time shopping and giving to others, but make sure you spend
time receiving and accepting gifts, compliments, love, etc from
others. Receiving replenishes your supply of energy. Always
giving to others can leave you feeling empty and drained,
therefore more susceptible to stress.
- Eat healthy and exercise. Just because the holidays include
sweet treats, it doesn’t mean you should fill up on them. Sugar
increases your stress level. Your body needs a balanced diet of
healthy food and regular exercise. If you find yourself drinking
more caffeine, staying up late or spending too much time online
shopping, then you’re not getting enough exercise or drinking
enough water. Your body is feeling the tension and is responding
with stress-oriented messages.
The one thing to remember is to focus on your goal of enjoying
the holidays and allowing it to be a peaceful season filled with
laughter and love. Remember to breathe, relax and loosen up.
Let go of any expectations of a ‘perfect’ holiday. Going with
the flow and ‘allowing’ spontaneity will lead to less stress and
more joy. The holidays are a great opportunity to gather
together and share. Just remember to share the good stuff- not
the stress!
© 2005 Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster is an Intuitive Counselor who assists clients to create extraordinary transformations in their daily lives. Her work is uplifting, empowering and success-oriented. You can visit Jodie’s website at http://www.illuminationsnetwork.com for further information and to schedule a private intuitive session. You can also look for daily updates to her blog at: http://intuitiveinnovations.blogspot.com.
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