How to Beat Stress During the Holidays

Christmas may be a joy-filled occasion for many, but for some it might be nerve-wracking. What makes the season so stressful? In an Entrepreneur.com interview with Spencer Blackman of the One Medical Group, the primary care physician explains how many factors can trigger holiday stress.

For one, routines are greatly disrupted due to the onslaught of activities, such as parties, travel, or the event itself. Moreover, chasing deadlines at work before taking a vacation leave can result to loss of productivity, which can create more stress.

Harvard Mahoney Science Institute’s website shares an interesting medical explanation on the link between the brain and holiday stress. Psychology experts explain that the brain gets overworked during the holidays, affecting a person’s ability to plan, focus and organize. It can malfunction due to the high demand that can then lead to poor memory and disruption in regeneration of brain cells.

For those who dread suffering from the ill effects of stress this season, there are many ways to avoid it. Seeing the holidays on a more positive light is a good start. Here are more tips on how to enjoy the season with glee.

Try turning off your mobile phone when you’re in the company of family or friends. Health.com believes that the incessant buzzing due to new messages and emails can contribute to one’s stress levels. Thus, keep your phone out of your sight so you can appreciate the time you spend with the people dear to you.

Last year, the AIA Group conducted the Healthy Living Index Survey to gauge how adults in Asia Pacific feel about their health. The results revealed that Filipinos only get an average of 6.9 hours of sleep a day, making them one of the most sleep-deprived in the region. Don’t forget to take a good night’s rest to help you recover from all those sleepless nights due to parties and other events this season. Several studies have found that lack of sleep can put you at risk for heart disease, diabetes, fertility problems, and more.

Along with sleep, exercising is another vital component to achieving a stress-free environment during the holidays. Regular exercise heightens the mood and energy levels. Fatigue, tension and anger are likely to erupt when you’re not exercising enough on a daily basis.

Your Christmas celebrations don’t have to be picture perfect. People do grow and move away from rituals that they’ve been accustomed to. Be more open to creating new memories and traditions. Find other ways to make the most of your quality time with colleagues, friends, and family.

Learn to appreciate the things around you. Pay close attention to what you see, smell and hear. Mindfulness can also be used in eating, which is something we considerably do more during Christmas. Mindful eating has been found to aid digestion by allowing the body to take its sweet time to process the food consumed.

This Christmas, be ready of what life has in store for you. If you already decided to do away with stress in your daily life, then the next best step is to commit to a healthy lifestyle.

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