Breathe Easy, Beat Holiday Stress
Most people seem to get conflicted about the holidays. First, they’re excited about special events, family gatherings, lavish meals and so on, but they’re also stressed about the inevitable frustrations. Pandemic tensions only add to the stress.
The trick to happy holidays is not letting these stressors overrule the excitement. But how?
One of the biggest steps you can take is to manage your expectations. We all want perfect holidays, but we should realize that “perfect” is impossible. So, relax. Deal with imperfections as they come up, and move on.
Another tip: Don’t try to do everything yourself. Not only will asking for help take some of the load off of you, but it also can help you spend more time with the people you love. Make food preparation a family affair, decorating a celebration, and so on.
Accept that there are many viewpoints on COVID risks, and look for common ground and compromises that still allow everyone to feel safe. Encourage others to set aside disagreements and do what is best for everyone involved.
And every once in a while, just stop and take a breath. Literally sit down for 15 minutes and do breathing exercises. You might feel like you don’t have time, but if you make time, you’ll find that you’re more productive – and less stressed – when you get back to work.
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Tags: covid, holiday stress, holidays