How to Beat the Holiday Stress

With two days till Christmas, this six-letter word may have snuck up on you, like it did to me.

Here are four ways to beat the holiday stress at its own game:

1) Recognize the Signs

Journaling and talking with support people can help you see the signs. Note when you are being forgetful. Skipped workouts or other self-care rituals? It could be because of conflicting schedules. Are you skimping on your sleep to get stuff done? Or even when you have time to rest you aren’t able to sleep well. Over- or under-eating signal stress too.

2) Put Your Behavior in Context

Once you recognize your stress signals, ask what else is going on in your life. Have you taken on a project you didn’t anticipate doing? Is your financial situation adding to your stress? What additional demands has there been on your time, like attending field trips, or new time-consuming projects at work? Have you and your spouse been arguing more? Has the teenage back talk increased? Look at the bigger picture. Multiple little stressors can add up to big overload. Dissecting your situation can help you pull the roots of your stressors.

3) Get Your Bearings

We often shed what gives us peace and strength when time pressured. Get back to your spiritual, emotional, and physical routine. Stay in touch with family and friends, even for brief connections. Get back to your to-do list and priority what needs to happen next and do it.

4) Reclaim Your Life

After putting the stress in context and getting your bearings, you are ready to start making structural changes to prevent or end the current stress. Do you need to ask for help from others in the volunteer projects you are doing? What boundaries do you need to set? What guilt do you need to let go of to start doing the things in your work and personal life that you need to do? How can you make sure you get the rest and self-care you need?

You beat stress when you welcome it as a reminder of your vulnerabilities. Each bout with stress gives you the opportunity to shore up your weak points. You’ll be stronger and smart when new stresses come.

Catholic Mompreneur Biz and Life Tip: Stress is your friend. It means you are stretching yourself. Know your zone and learn and adjust from each bout with excessive stress.

Copyright 2014 Christina M Weber MS