HOLIDAY AND STRESS The holiday season can be a time to relax our bodies, calm our minds, and refresh our souls; it is also a time of festivities, parties, shopping, entertaining, religious observances, family gatherings, decorating, and...STRESS! With all demands we place on ourselves and expectations of the season, is it no wonder that most of us feel some stress during the holiday season. Plan Are you one of those persons that are shopping at last minute? Did you know that nothing creates more holiday stress than last-minute shopping and preparations? Take charge of your holidays in advance by making lists of things to do, to keep you organized. Why not plan out the whole season, if necessary from shopping gifts and grocery, to time-out for relaxing. When shopping, use gift-wrapping services. Try shopping at home from mail-order catalogs or over the internet. Keep It Simple Decide what activities you and your family would most enjoy doing and focus on those. Share responsibilities with others and learn to say NO gently, but firmly to social events that are over your limit. People will understand. Often, traditional fare is appreciated most, with guests providing some of the dishes. Let go of old traditions if they no longer work for your family and that take too much time. Mix old traditions with new conveniences. Budget Do holiday preparations strain your budget? Make a budget and stick to it. Don’t forget hidden expenses. Choose simple, thoughtful, or useful gifts. How can you enjoy the holidays if you’re worried about paying your bills? Taking action toward getting in control of your finances can provide enormous relief all by itself. Emotional Roller Coaster The holidays can be hard on your emotions. If family gatherings are stressful, avoid long visits, either in your house or away. Finding your balance is a day-by-day matter, caring for yourself and others will make your holiday more satisfying. Attitude Have an open mind. Everyone succeeds because relaxation can be as simple as doing nothing. This “can’t fail†attitude is one of the most important elements for learning how to relax. Take Care Of Yourself Give yourself some time for rest and renewal each day. Get enough sleep. Fatigue can lead to stress, Avoid overindulgence in holiday food (overeating), alcohol abuse, and numerous family problems. Maybe you can do something special for people you don’t know. Helping the less fortunate can help you put your own problems into perspective. Think about what the holidays are actually celebrating and try to stay true to that spirit. This year, make a conscious effort to make this a less stressful holiday season. Take care Ransy Reynis