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Enjoy Holiday Season Serenity In Three Easy Steps
Stress is a feeling that many people associate with the holidays. All of the:
- Get-Togethers
- Decorating
- Shopping
- Driving Around
- Gift Expenses
…can add stress to your life.
The holidays aren’t supposed to be burdensome. The joy of the season can be overshadowed by the mundane details, but we’re going to look into three excellent ways to restore some “heavenly peace“.
When you’re trying to restore some serenity to the hectic holiday season, it is important to identify what is actually causing your stress. Here are some ideas to help you determine the best method for resolving it.
Exercise
Many people choose exercise as a helpful way to reduce stress during the holiday season. With regular exercise, you can divert attention from what’s stressing you and clear your mind by focusing on the activity.
You don’t need to exercise for a long time. Just try taking a brisk walk during your lunch break at work or take a walk alone after dinner to relax and unwind. Here are some more psychological benefits of regular exercise:
- Better Mood
We’ve all heard of ‘the runners high‘. This is achieved after someone doing physical activity, reaches a certain level in their workout and their body releases chemicals that make them feel good. These are called endorphins. There are twenty kinds of endorphins, but regular exercise will encourage the brain to continue producing these hormones and the pleasant sensations they cause. - Exercise Is A Proven Stress Reducer
People who work out regularly are less likely to let unpleasant surprises get to them. They are usually more emotionally balanced, which can also be a side effect of the endorphins created while you exercise. There is also the awareness that you are taking control of certain aspects of your life leading you to be more confident in other areas of your life. - Higher Self-Esteem
Knowing that you:- are taking care of yourself
- have the confidence and commitment to work out on a regular basis
- are taking steps to improve the way you look
…all add up to increased self-esteem.
There is a certain positive feeling about taking good care of yourself. Exercise is good for you, we all know that.
Ask Santa for a six-pack!
It’s important to realize that there are also psychological effects of exercise. It not only helps your body stay healthy but it can keep your mind and spirit healthy, too.
Let Yourself Relax
Taking time for yourself during the holidays is also very important when you want to reduce stress. A lot of the stress during this time of year comes from how much you have taken on yourself and how many different directions you are pulled in.
Try to find a few moments each day when you can relax, preferably with a quiet activity that you can do on your own:
- Read a book while your kids do their homework
- Get up a little early in the morning for a quick meditation session
- Take a bath at night when the rest of the house is quiet
Make a goal to set aside a few minutes of “Me Time“. You’ll feel better and be less irritable if you can relax and do something you enjoy every day.
Plan Ahead
If your holidays tend to be hectic, it might be from a lack of preparation.
Leaving everything until the last minute can cause a lot of personal chaos. That leads to high amounts of stress. To resolve this, try to plan as far ahead as you can:
- Make your holiday shopping list early
- Start shopping a little bit every weekend
- Get help with Christmas dinner preparations
You might think that it is impossible to go through the holiday season without feeling stress but if you follow the guidelines above, it will be less stressful this year.
Mirth is like a flash of lightning, that breaks through a gloom of clouds, and glitters for a moment; cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, and fills it with a steady and perpetual serenity. ~Joseph Addison
Find some time for yourself and make sure to relax.
This time of year is supposed to bring “comfort and joy“, not dread.