With the Holidays almost upon us, we all can feel the stress levels rising. We are so busy that we forget to pause. Our days are filled with shopping, cooking, baking, holiday parties to plan for and attend, all in addition to what is already on our plates.
Stress can ruin your holidays and hurt your health if you don’t make it a habit to pause.
When stress is at its peak, it’s hard to remember to stop and regroup. The meaning to pause® bracelet can help remind us to come from gratitude and to focus /focus/think the true meaning of the holidays.
A good plan is to try to prevent stress in the first place, especially if the holidays have taken an emotional toll on you in the past.
Here Are Eight Tips on How to Prevent Stress During the Holidays
1. Pause for reality checks. There is no rule that dictates that holidays have to be perfect or just like last year. Traditions and rituals most likely will change as families grow. If you must, choose a few to hold on to, and be open to new ones. For example, if your adult children can’t come to your house, find new ways to celebrate together, such as face time, Skype or videos.
2. Pause and acknowledge your feelings and set aside differences. Make a point 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.
3. Pause to reach out. Pick up the phone and call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. Seek out community, religious or other social events if you feel lonely or isolated. They can offer support and companionship. Volunteering your time to help others also is a good way to appreciate what you have, lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.
4. Pause and create a budget. Overspending is a huge contributor to stress. Before you go gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Don’t try to buy happiness with exorbitant gifts. Instead:
- Consider homemade gifts
- Start a family gift exchange
- Donate to a charity in someone’s name
5. Pause to plan ahead. Avoid the last-minute rush, rather set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make your shopping list. That’ll help prevent last-minute scrambling to buy forgotten ingredients. And make sure to line up help for party prep and cleanup.
6. Learn to say no. Don’t fall into the trap of feeling overwhelmed by saying yes when you should say no. Good friends, colleagues, and family will understand if you can’t participate in every project or activity. If it’s not possible to say no try to remove something else from your agenda to make up for the lost time.
7. Don’t let go of healthy habits. Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Instead:
- Eat a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don’t go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Incorporate regular physical activity into each day.
8. Pause and take a breather.Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm. Pause to:
- Breathe deeply in and out
- Meditate
- Pray
- Take a walk
- Listen to soothing music…the possibilities are endless.
The meaning to pause® bracelet ~also referred to as “functional jewelry” ~ is a wonderful and stylish tool that will remind you to pause at pre-determined intervals to help you make it through the holidays with ease.
Why just buy a gift? Give the gift of pause this year! For more information, go here
Have You Been Meaning to Pause ??