News Taffy

“Its the most stressful time of the year!” That’s not exactly how the song goes but Black Friday does usher in the season packed with a mishmash of anxiety, time commitments, shopping, parties and dysfunctional relatives all masquerading as love and joy. You will enjoy your wonderful time more if you find ways to keep your stress under control this holiday season.

The number one way to manage stress is to take care of yourself. Keep exercising no matter how much you have to do. Squeeze in a walk during lunch or get to the gym in the morning, just do what it takes. The body releases chemicals during and after exercise that promote a feeling of well being and keep depression at bay. Plus exercise will keep weight gain to a minimum, allowing you to feel better about all those holiday goodies you plan to eat. Speaking of food, make sure you eat well and drink plenty of water. You can’t function if you feel crappy because you are dehydrated or had too much sugar or alcohol. Try practicing meditation, deep breathing or yoga each day, if only for a few minutes. Each of these has been shown to be relaxing and to restore calm.

Obviously the holidays bring on extra work - decorating, shopping, parties, holiday cooking and visiting relatives. Create a master list of things that need to be done and then prioritize the tasks into those things which absolutely have to be done and those which you’d like to do if you have time. Figure out which chores can be done by someone else. Let your spouse and kids help where they can. Older kids can wrap, everyone can help decorate and clean. With so much shopping done online these days, its easy to give a list and a credit card to someone and let them get ’er done. Your kids can even design and print the family Christmas card online and they are probably better at it than the adults! Besides, letting others help with Christmas preparations fosters a sense of belonging and togetherness.

The holidays are supposed to be about love, joy and spending time with those you love. Make sure you connect in a meaningful way with your friends, loved ones and even your pets each day. Send a quick text, have a chat with a distant relative, enjoy the cards you receive and send. Take the time to read a holiday book or watch a television show with your kids. Sing Christmas songs in the car and have a cup of hot chocolate by the tree. Don’t forget to spend time with your pets during the seasonal frenzy. They are nonjudgemental and offer nothing but love. Cuddling and playing with pets is a great way to relieve stress and lower blood pressure too.

Remember the holiday doesn’t have to be perfect, it just needs to be heartfelt and happy, full of love and the mysteries of the Christmas season.