Coping With The Ups and Downs of the Holidays
As we roll into the final months of the year, businesses are often ramping up their marketing campaigns for sales during the holidays or finalizing their planning for the coming year.
In both scenarios, employees are faced with long days and even faster paced environments. Stress levels ramp up as people work feverishly to get projects in before deadlines. Vacations are looming - those days off that were scheduled months in advance are coming up in just a few weeks and all work needs to be completed so you can step away and get some R&R with family and friends.
We all know that there are many different types of “stressors” in everyday life when demands exceed your ability to cope. While sometimes beneficial and motivating by the “burst” of energy it may create, too much stress has a negative impact on your health - from your immune system to your nervous system and ultimately your emotional state of mind.
These stressors may be the direct result of dissatisfaction with your job, concerns about finances, relationship issues or substance abuse. While the list is long, and exacerbated with the holidays looming, managing them can be narrowed down to 5 healthy and proven techniques and one simple quote.
Take a Break From the Stressor. While it may seem impossible or too difficult to walk away, letting yourself do so and refocusing on something else, will help you to “refresh” and feel less overwhelmed. You are not avoiding it, you are just giving yourself permission to step away and gain a different perspective.
Get up and Exercise. Research proves that the benefits to your mind and body from just a quick 30-minute walk, run, swim or bike ride will help you to regroup and minimize the stressors in your day.
Relieve the Tension with a Smile. Stress shows through facial expressions - try finding something that relieves that tension, makes you smile and potentially laugh. They do say that “laughter will always be the best medicine”.
Reach out for Support. If you feel overwhelmed, talking through it will help alleviate the added pressure and validate your feelings. Call a friend, family member or a colleague you trust.
Meditation & Mindfulness. There are many types of meditation including Yoga, Acupuncture, and Visualization. They can be short breathing and stretching techniques to help release emotions that may be causing physical stress or they may be more focused on clearing the mind and refocusing on the positives and not the negatives. Taking a few minutes will allow you to reset and re-energize your mind and body.
“Rule number one is, don’t sweat the small stuff. Rule number two is, it’s all small stuff.”
—Robert Eliot