This month’s dialogue
MONTHLY TOPIC: BOO! THINK HALLOWEEN IS SCARY, WHAT ABOUT THE STRESS OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY SEASON?
It’s hard to believe it is October, and once we put the goblins away, the holiday season descends upon us quickly, bringing stress and anxiety to the joy of the season. It seems like no matter how far ahead you prepare there is always something or someone that will cause you to “lose it” and put a damper on the celebration.
In her article “Beating the Holiday Blues” (http://www.healthvideo.com/article.php?id=937), Erica Heilman discusses “analyzing the tension” and “articulating to yourself” the things or people that make you tense. Gracefully confronting the person who has caused you stress in the past may avert the situation. If you’re in the kitchen and the pot is literally boiling over and you are about to blow also, “remind yourself that it will pass” and you can always clean up the mess.
Many of us do not know how to say no when we are pressed to participate in or to host an event. Prepare for the inevitable request ahead of time and practice your excuse. Plan to be otherwise engaged on that evening. If you want to attend functions, but do not want wear yourself out, it is perfectly acceptable to choose one or two and say no to the rest. If you want to entertain, but don’t want to do the work required for an entire meal have people over for cocktails or coffee and dessert. Plan a New Year’s Eve game night with a few close friends.
Heilman suggest the following to ward off the effects of winter blues.
- Try not to give in to high-density carbohydrate cravings. Snacks are fine, but try to make them fruits and vegetables and healthy protein snacks.
- Keep your meal times regular.
- Get as much light—both sunlight and artificial light—as you can. Take advantage of the daylight hours with a walk and use bright lights inside.
- Exercise during the daylight hours, or in a well-lit place. If you get your exercise in the morning or during the day, you will give your body a consistent signal that it's not hibernation time.
- Keep your sleep habits regular, and don't sleep too much. That hibernation tendency is self-perpetuating. Keep your sleep hours down to eight to nine hours a day.
- Drink in moderation.
Heilman also suggests that you “analyze the sadness and address it specifically;" don’t let your mood ruin your entire holiday season. Also, be sure to watch for signs of stress and or depression in friends and loved ones. Remember the university provides employees with access to the Horizon Health Employee Assistance Program, where you can find a wealth of information regarding stress and anxiety relief as well as many other helpful articles and tips about physical and mental well-being (see OHR for login).