Surviving the holiday season
The holidays are a wonderful time, BUT they can also be SUPER stressful! We live in a society where we see what everyone else is doing all the time and we want to keep up. We are also in close quarters with family that we typically don’t see that often. If you’re feeling the stress of the holidays, here’s a few tips to keep in mind!
Boundaries-American novelist Anne Lamott is credited with saying, “No is a complete sentence.” Period. The end. You don’t have to commit to every holiday gathering. You don’t have to stay all day for Thanksgiving or Christmas. You don’t have to travel 8 hours in the car to see your family that you haven’t seen in a decade.
Self-Care-This time of year, again, is super fun, but is also a lot of work. Make sure you take time for yourself as you’re focusing on everyone else around you. Remember, you’re no help to anyone else if you, yourself, aren’t ok.
It’s temporary-This season is temporary. It will be over in January. If there are obligations that you can’t get out of and you’re feeling stressed by it, remember that this feeling isn’t going to last forever.
Sleep-Cortisol levels increase when we’re stressed. We could go into the science of it all, which would take all day, but the long and short of it is, it increases blood sugar levels, narrows arteries, suppresses the immune system, etc. Cortisol levels can rise by nine times when we’re in stressful situations (aka the holidays). Sleep helps reset our system. Make sure you’re not sacrificing your sleep to get more done. That’s actually making things worse!
You got this! The holidays are a stressful time, but you don’t have to succumb to the season. You’re in charge. Make it fun! If you need some extra help this holiday season, reach out to a therapist or medication provider at Pineapple Counseling today!
