How to Survive Holiday Stress
The holiday season is supposed to be fun, but can easily turn into stressful times. Smooth out the bumps in the road with this handy Hall Acura Virginia Beach survival guide for holiday stress.
Exercise
If you don’t already follow an exercise regimen, you may be wondering why you should start now, when activity levels are higher than usual and holiday schedules are full to bursting. But exercise is one of the body’s best defenses against stress. Though walking the malls while shopping may sound like exercise, properly focused activities are required to release the endorphins needed to combat holiday stress. At home, you can dust off the treadmill and get on it while watching your favorite holiday movies, or take a long walk with a friend or relative. Of course, if you already have a regular exercise routine, do your best to stick with it.
Note, too, that a little extra movement can be incorporated into your holiday shopping routine. Instead of stressing out over finding those elusive parking spots at the mall, park in the furthest spot you can find. That little bit of extra walking will not only burn off a few extra calories, but you'll also eliminate some holiday stress by not having to swerve around people or fight bigger cars for the same spot.
Avoid Malls Altogether
The frenzied atmosphere of malls contributes to holiday stress. This year, why not try something different? If you live close enough to a neighborhood that has eclectic stores and boutiques, give them a try. Or, make your life even more stress-free by doing your Christmas shopping online.
Almost anything you can find in real life, you can find online, and don't forget about sites like Etsy. Not only will you get the satisfaction of having purchased something hand-made, you'll also get to support a small business, artists, or craftsperson during tough economic times.
Not only can you find practically any store in the mall online, but you can also help out small-time artists and craftspeople by buying hand-crafted items from online retailers such as Etsy.com. That way, you'll receive handcrafted gifts and support a small business at the same time. It's the perfect way to incorpoarte the spirit of the season into your gift-buying process.
Strive for a Balanced Diet
Sure, advice columns are full of tips to avoid the temptations of holiday goodies and drinks. But avoiding all opportunities to eat, drink, and be merry during this time of year isn't very practical, especially with many social events on the calendar and new recipes to try out. Deprivation can lead to holiday stress just as much as eating and drinking too much can.
Instead, strive for balance and make small, sensible changes to your diet to accommodate those extra goodies--and calories--that beckon on every corner. Even by making small adjustments, you may find you won’t have to make diet-related resolutions come New Year’s. For example, on the day of a party, opt for a breakfast of oatmeal with nuts and a piece of fruit rather than a sugar-and-calorie-rich jumbo-sized muffin from your favorite coffee shop.
Keep Your Priorities Straight
A major contributor of stress any time of year is money--but this can get only get worse as budgets are stretched to their limits during the gift-giving season. Especially during the holidays, it may be necessary to downsize expectations. If you can’t afford to buy gifts for everyone you normally would, that's okay. Gifts of home-baked goods or special services, like babysitting or house cleaning, will be just as appreciated.
Notably, take time out for yourself each day, even if it's just a few minutes. Taking a bath, reading a book, and listening to music are all effective stress busters--and most importantly, cost next to nothing.