by <strong>Oh, no, no!</strong>
<a href=”http://www.repertoiremag.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/REP-Dec.15-iStock_000035833790_Large.jpg”><img class=”alignright size-full wp-image-3116″ src=”http://www.repertoiremag.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/REP-Dec.15-iStock_000035833790_Large.jpg” alt=”REP-Dec.15-iStock_000035833790_Large” width=”200″ height=”168″ /></a>If the holidays fill you with a sense of dread, you are not alone. From gift shopping and wrapping to office parties and family get-togethers, for many, it’s a season of stress. Particularly for those coming off the heels of a personal tragedy or battling clinical depression, December is not the cheery month it’s made out to be.
Learn to recognize your holiday triggers, such as financial pressures or personal demands, advises the Mayo Clinic, and “combat them before they lead to a meltdown.” With a little planning and some positive thinking, almost anyone can find peace and joy during the holidays. Mayo Clinic recommends taking the following steps:
<ul>
<li><strong>Don’t ignore negative or sad feelings. Acknowledge them.</strong> If someone close to you has recently died or you can’t be with loved ones, realize that it’s normal to feel sadness and grief. You can’t force yourself to be happy just because it’s the holiday season.</li>
<li><strong>Reach out.</strong> If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out community, religious or other social events. They can offer support and companionship. Volunteering your time to help others also is a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.</li>
<li><strong>Be realistic.</strong> The holidays don’t have to be perfect or a repeat of past holidays. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones.</li>
<li><strong>Set aside differences.</strong> Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don’t live up to all of your expectations. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry. Chances are they’re feeling the effects of holiday stress and depression, too.</li>
<li><strong>Stick to a budget.</strong> Before you shop for gifts and food, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Don’t try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. (Some alternatives to gift shopping include donating to a charity in someone’s name, making homemade gifts, or starting a family gift exchange.)</li>
<li><strong>Plan ahead.</strong> Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus, and then make your shopping list. And, when hosting parties, ask for – and accept – help with preparations and cleanup.</li>
<li><strong>Learn to say no.</strong> Saying <em>yes</em> when you should say <em>no</em> can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can’t participate in every project or activity.</li>
<li><strong>Don’t abandon healthy habits.</strong> Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to stress and guilt. Some healthy suggestions include:
<ul>
<li>Eat a healthy snack before holiday parties to avoid going overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks.</li>
<li>Get plenty of sleep.</li>
<li>Incorporate regular physical activity into each day.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Take a breather.</strong> Make time for yourself. Even 15 minutes alone, without distractions, can refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. For example:
<ul>
<li>Take a nighttime walk and stargaze.</li>
<li>Listen to soothing music.</li>
<li>Get a massage.</li>
<li>Read a book.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>If necessary, seek professional help.</strong> If in spite of all efforts, you find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.</li>
</ul>
For more information visit <a href=”http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20047544?pg=1″>http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20047544?pg=1</a>.
