It’s already starting … There are Christmas decorations in local stores !!! Fall is here and the changing of the seasons ushers in a four-month period of vacation and stress. Here are five solid tips to reduce your stress between Halloween and New Years.
1- Sleep soundly in terms of quantity and quality
Your body needs adequate sleep in order to rejuvenate itself every night. Since a normal sleep cycle lasts about 90 minutes, sleep in 90-minute intervals (6, 7.5, or 9 hours) so you can wake up refreshed each day.
Almost as important, give yourself a consistent time to go to sleep. Your body has a natural rhythm. The more consistent you are when you go to bed, the more rested you will be.
If falling asleep is a problem for you, there are other steps you can take to help. Beyond the obvious advice to avoid caffeine 4-6 hours before bed, create a sleep routine for yourself, take some quiet time 20-30 minutes before bed. What you focus on during that time is what you will unconsciously think about all night. Likewise, don’t eat a large and heavy meal before bed and keep your bedroom relatively cool and well ventilated. On the nutrition side, you may want to try a light protein snack (a glass of milk, sliced turkey on a rice cake), or a cup of chamomile tea to induce sleep.
2- Always take the healthiest food option.
Avoid saying to yourself, “I can’t have that candy,” it creates a shortage. An easier way to handle all your treats, desserts, and drinks is to always choose the healthiest option. Instead of the double layer chocolate cake, take the chocolate chip cookie. Beware of excess caffeine and sugars.
Keep your sanity and don’t diet while on vacation. Make it your goal to maintain the same weight! There are so many goodies, desserts, parties, and temptations. Eat and drink in moderation. By the way, there is a connection between overeating and being tired, so make sure you get enough sleep, it will help get you in the mood to make better decisions.
3- Find a way to exercise, without excuses
Not only will it help you burn those extra calories that you are sure to take in, but it will also get your body moving so we can feel better. Find a way to physically move every day. You can find a 4 minute workout on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXy3NjHtBSc&NR=1 It will boost your metabolism and help you feel better. Remember, where there is a will, there is a way. If you don’t spend time with your body, your body will make you do so, in the form of colds, flu, and lack of energy.
4- Give yourself a break
Take a yoga class, learn to meditate, or put on that relaxing music for 5 minutes. When things get too crazy, take a break. There are many ways of doing it. For some, taking a break might mean walking 15 minutes around the block, giving yourself permission to sit and watch a specific TV show, or sneaking out in 5 minutes of silence in your car in the parking lot. For others, it could mean committing to “unplugging” from all electronic devices one night a week.
5- Plan in advance but stay flexible
Schedule your sleep, exercise, and breaks for the next four months on your calendar right now, and commit to sticking to them. But, when things start to get crazy, stay flexible in prioritizing the day. Don’t let your scheduled time to de-stress disappear. Reprogram it immediately. Be proactive and flexible.
If you start to feel overwhelmed, “dump your brain” all you need to do on a piece of paper and put a “label” on each item. Decide if it is “important and urgent”, “important but not urgent”, “urgent but not important” or “not urgent and not important”.
Sorting out your to-dos will help you decide what needs to be addressed or left on the schedule, and what can be delayed or eliminated.
The whole period around the holidays can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be something you dread. Stress is best managed by being proactive. It’s often a response to the overwhelming and general sense of lack of control: too much ahead of you and too little time to complete.
So choose to regain that control and handle the stress of the holidays by being proactive in your planning and preparing yourself with the coping skills you need to enjoy the holiday season.
