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Q & A: How can I better handle the stress of the holidays?
Question:
How can I better handle the stress of the holidays?
Answer:
Holidays can often bring feelings of anxiety and stress. Add fatigue, difficulty multi-tasking and the extra activity of holiday preparations and visitors, and you’ve got a recipe for… well, something other than holiday cheer. So how DO you get through the holidays with some sense of warm, fuzzy feelings?
Here are a few simple ground rules:
1. Split up the tasks. Assess the strengths of each family member and assign tasks accordingly.
2. Communication is KEY. Be honest about your feelings about the holidays, assess how you are feeling physically, mentally and emotionally, and communicate this to your loved ones. An open dialogue can help relieve anxiety and can create opportunities to discuss how to approach the holidays, how to create new traditions, plus allow you to reach out to loved ones who are there to help.
3. Reflect. The holidays are a time of self-reflection, and it’s important to take the time to look back and reflect at all the challenges you’ve been able to overcome. Despite the difficulty, you haven’t fallen apart. You’ve been through a lot, and it’s O.K. to acknowledge that during the holidays!
4. Consider new traditions. It might not be possible to continue certain traditions that you were used to before. It’s important to assess where you are and what you feel you can do. Set realistic expectations for yourself so that holidays don’t become a burden. What new traditions can you start as a family? What will it take for you to enjoy the holidays without over-extending yourself?
5. Keep an eye on the time! Give yourself the freedom to keep holiday visits short, calm and peaceful. The usual hustle and bustle of the holidays often involves lots of people, hectic and stimulating atmospheres and crammed schedules. This can be extremely overwhelming and exhausting. Limit the number of visitors and activities to avoid bringing on extra fatigue.
6. Check in with your emotional thermometer. During the holidays, we often put on a cheery disposition for the sake of the holiday spirit. Don’t suppress your feelings! Allow yourself to experience what you are feeling. It’s ok to feel sadness, anger, or even relief. This is important for both patients and caregivers.
Blog reposted from December 8, 2010
Image credit: befitandstrong.com 
