A few years ago I read a story that gave me a new perspective on the holiday season. In this tale, a fictional town was experiencing the worst yuletide in its history because all the female residents were on strike. This reminded me that, often, women are the foundations, the unsung heroes, of the holiday season.
For many us, the non-fictional holiday story goes like this: Every year, you promise to get a better grip on the holidays but somehow, you always get caught up in the stress of the season. No wonder you get tense at this time of the year. You have a lot to do. In the midst of planning parties, meeting year-end deadlines, making travel arrangements, attending school concerts, baking cookies, buying presents and doing a multitude of other tasks, you want to be composed, have fun and not gain weight.
Follow this stress-prevention plan to experience a festive rather than frazzled season.
1. Identify stress-relief tools
It's easy to become so preoccupied with taking care of the daily urgencies of the season - the cooking, the visiting, and the organizing - that no space, time or energy is left for you. When your needs and self-care fall to the bottom of your list, this is a one-way ticket to a tired, cranky, impatient you. The best gift you can give your family and yourself this season is a healthy, happy you. The secret to making this happen is to give yourself permission to put the quality of your own life at the top of your holiday wish list. To do so, identify three holiday stress-relief tools you can use to take better care of you, such as taking a bath, practising meditation, going out for a walk, reading your favorite book, renting a video, sleeping in or performing breathing exercises. Write these ideas down and when you feel like you are reaching the edge of comfort, make a pledge to engage in one or all three stress-relieving activities.
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