THOMAS: Tips to keep holiday stress under control
Before the Jack-o-lantern loses its smile, stores were already advertising sales, stringing holiday lights, setting up displays and playing seasonal music. The winter holidays receive a huge build-up.
The season brings changes for many of us: families are visiting, different foods are eaten, homes take on festive looks, and bedtime routines are disrupted.
As you are reading this, you are probably adding to your already mile-long holiday to-do list. Goodies to bake, cards to write, packages to buy and wrap, parties to attend, travel plans to make -- your list is already winding down the hall and will soon hang out the living room window, waving in the breeze.
With so much happening, little time is left to take care of ourselves, and our physical and emotional resources may become depleted. While some stress can help motivate us to be productive, too much stress can harm our health and reduce our enjoyment of the season.
Yes, the stress of the holidays has begun. To make this holiday less stressful and more enjoyable, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Program offers the following tips:
Plan ahead and get organized: Many of us are so busy with our daily lives that we often don't feel as though we have time to plan ahead for the holidays. Taking care of things ahead of time, such as shopping for gifts and completing holiday cards, reduces your workload as you near the holidays.
Make lists of what to buy and from where. Create a list of everything that needs to be done and bought and attach a schedule for the coming weeks to break large tasks into smaller ones. Set a budget for shopping. Keeping your spending limited can help you avoid feeling stressed later.
Set realistic expectations: Rather than expecting your holiday to be "perfect," focus on the real meaning of the season. The ultimate goal is to enjoy quality time with the people you care about.
Remind yourself that it is OK if the food or decor is not perfect. Focus on the positive moments as much as possible. Take time to think about what events you will attend or host and for how long, keeping in mind that sometimes less is more.
Take care of yourself: Taking good care of yourself is one of the cornerstones of stress management, and it's especially important at holiday time -- for you and everyone else in the family (especially children). Your stress can splash over onto other family members, so it's a kindness to everyone when you take good care of yourself.
Making sure we eat healthy foods, exercise, get plenty of rest and relaxation helps bolster us and renews our physical and emotional resources. Focus on healthier foods, such as vegetables, fruits and lean meats. You may also want to ask yourself if you are truly hungry or are eating because food is readily available.
Increase your physical activity by walking after meals and taking stairs rather than elevators. Finally, take time for yourself, even if it's only a few minutes while you are lying in bed in the morning.
Be in the moment: Remember, every stressful situation, glitch, perceived setback and roadblock has the potential for awesome memories and great stories in the future.
Contact county Extension agent Keishon J. Thomas by calling 478-751-6338 or emailling thomaskj@uga.edu.
This story was originally published November 15, 2015 at 10:08 PM with the headline "THOMAS: Tips to keep holiday stress under control ."