Dec. 19, 2024 | The holiday season is in full swing, with Christmas coming this week as well as Hannukah and Kwanzaa. For many people, the holidays are a challenging time. Loneliness, financial insecurities, health problems and other factors can take away the joy and wonder of the season. So what can you do to reduce the stress and anxiety that comes each year at this time? Instead of trying to meet everyone’s expectations, imagine what kind of holiday works best for you. Does it involve a full-on traditional Christmas feast with your extended family, or would you prefer a quieter day in your pajamas watching holiday-themed movies with those closest to you? Take specific steps to achieve your goal, even if you have to be a little creative. Whatever you choose, keep this image at the front of your mind and work towards achieving it. Make sure you check in with those you love to see what they would like to do and do all you can to incorporate their wishes too.

Dec. 19, 2024 | It’s not unusual to feel lonely during the holiday season. Even in a room full of people, you might feel lonely because you’re not in a relationship or you’re dealing with a family conflict. Many of us are not able to be with loved ones due to distance, finances, health, work or other responsibilities. It’s also a time that we remember, even more than usual, loved ones who have passed away. There is no universal way to ease loneliness, but a good way to start is by reaching out, a quick phone call or text to a friend will help. Seek community at your church, your child’s school events, or by volunteering to help the elderly or families in need. Read a book, listen to nostalgic music or watch fun movies. Try something new, like painting, playing guitar or creative writing. Limit the time you spend on things that drain you, like social media or non-stop news coverage. And don’t be shy about meeting with a therapist if you are feeling especially fragile, sad or depressed.

Dec. 19, 2024 | It’s Christmas and the beginning of Hanukkah. A trend that many people have been adapting this holiday season is zebra striping, which involves sipping non-alcoholic drinks between glasses of wine or champagne in an effort to feel better the next day. Switching between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will encourage you to pace yourself, allowing you to be more aware of how much alcohol you are consuming. The shift towards drinking in moderation has been facilitated by the boom in the non-alcoholic drinks sector, which has made low or non-alcoholic alternatives more widely available. Also, hydrating non-alcoholic drinks such as water will help counteract the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Dehydration can cause fatigue, headaches and poor concentration, dampening any festivities planned. By keeping hydrated, you can better maintain your energy levels, ensuring you can cope with a busy schedule more effectively and enjoy the holidays.

Dec. 19, 2024 | Sometimes the festive period around Christmas and New Year’s means that you have to spend time with people you wouldn’t usually choose to spend time with. This can be unavoidable, but there are some strategies you can use to reduce the stress of having to socialize with people you do not want to spend time with during the holidays. Before going to a family event, be aware of topics that you know you need to stay clear of, like money, politics or religion, to reduce the likelihood of conflict. Secondly, you can prepare a few neutral topics beforehand so that you have something to speak about to reduce tension. And, if all else fails, avoid being left in a conversation with someone that aggravates your holiday anxiety. When a sensitive topic does come up, excuse yourself from the conversation by helping out with the cleaning or food preparation or any other excuse that helps you remove yourself from the immediate conversation.

Dec. 19, 2024 | Stress is a part of life and is extremely common during the holidays. Although it’s impossible to totally eliminate stress, we can learn to manage it, and research has shown that exercise or being physically active is a healthy way to maintain both mental and physical fitness. When we are under stress, cortisol, a powerful hormone that is created when our brain perceives a threat and puts our body into a flight or fight response. Exercise can help lower the level of cortisol and protect your cardiovascular, digestive, and immune systems from the negative aftermath of a stressful event. Moving your body with intentional exercise is like meditation in motion because it allows a person time to concentrate on their body’s movement and focus on a single task. Regular exercise can improve your mood, increase self-confidence and lower symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. It also helps improve sleep which can be disrupted by stress.