Coping Up With Stress During the Holiday Season

Are you not feeling particularly merry this holiday season? Well, you’re not the only one. Though for most people, the holiday season is the climax of every year, they find it more stressful than joyous considering all the preparations and activities they need to work on. Well, if you feel the same way, keep reading and find out what things could help you cope with stress during the holiday season.


Mindfulness is our ability to bring our attention to the present moment without interpretation or judgment, instead just accepting whatever is happening. While mindfulness can be a great form of meditation, which we could practice during this season, there are simple ways to help us practice this skill. These can give us a better perspective and help decrease our stress levels.


ACCEPT FLAWS

We tend to set the bar high for ourselves during the holiday season, especially during the preparation stage for the holiday reunion. This is an uncommon situation that we get ourselves into, then feel upset when the outcome does not live up to our expectations.


Even before you begin your planning or preparation, the best thing to do is to acknowledge that things may not go as planned, and IT’S OKAY if it won’t turn out to be how we imagined it to be. A Flaw or imperfection is good and normal. Maybe it’s just life’s way of telling us that we need a little more practice.


DON’T GET LOST IN THE PREPARATION AND LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT MATTERS

Of course, during holidays, we can expect long lines at the stores and nasty traffics here and there. And truth be told, getting caught in these situations can be overwhelming. But when you start to feel engulfed with stressful mood, ask yourself the following:


  • What am I going to get out of this? Say you’re starting to get frustrated because you’re in the middle of a slow-moving, long grocery line; remember that it’s just a long queue, nothing more. And focus on getting your grocery items scanned through and paid for, and that’s it! Don’t let it spoil your day, and think about your excitement cooking this new dish that you’ve always wanted to try when you get home.
  • What can I do instead of being frustrated at this moment? Well, aside from thinking about that yummy dish that you can’t wait to cook at home this evening, you can also use this opportunity to count the good things that have happened today or the things that you are most grateful for. Or, if you don’t feel like counting all your good things for today, you may want to double-check your grocery list and make sure you got everything in your shopping cart.
  • How can I make this frustrating situation pleasant? Simple! Connect with someone else in line with a compliment or kind gesture, or notice what’s around you with fresh eyes and an open mind. Maybe the latest Vogue magazine is displayed right next to you with your favorite model as cover. We bet that should somehow ease your frustration for a minute there.

RESPOND AND NOT REACT. AND WHEN YOU REACT, REACT WITH KINDNESS.

You may have heard this a gazillion times from others, but we agree that we must respond and not react when faced with frustrating situations. See, when we react, it’s always out of impulse, without putting much thought into it and considering what could be the result of our actions. Responding, on the other hand, is more thoughtful and done with reasoning. It creates this space between an event and what you do (or don’t do) with it.


  • Whenever you come across a problematic person, tell yourself… “This person might be having a terrible day, probably a bad day at work, at home, or maybe suffering reason why they are acting this way.” When you tell yourself this, it can help soften your frustrations and help you be more compassionate towards that person. Above all, it will help remind you that it is nothing personal.
  • Keep in mind that holidays can be difficult… Contrary to what others think, holidays can be challenging for some people, especially those alone. If you extend an act of kindness to those you know without family or companions or friends during this time of the year, that will surely help lighten their load and make your day good.
  • If things are getting out of hand… Breathe. Breathing exercise is probably the most underrated technique on how to deal with stressful situations. Taking a few deep breaths can help shift things quickly and give you a new perspective.

REVISIT YOUR RESOLUTIONS

When was the last time you conquered our New Year’s Resolution? Well, if you ask us and others, probably once, twice, or even never! See, New Year’s resolutions usually set us to fail. If you want to become better and better each year, focus on these:

 

  • Everything starts small. Say your goal is to lose 8kg next year; you have to break that goal into small portions or divide it into several objectives. Say you start doing 30-minute exercise five times a week; then you will begin to consume less sugar and sodas, you’ll skip takeaway foods and set time to prepare your meals at home. Start taking health supplements to help you manage your weight. It will take too much practice and discipline, but it’s all going to be worth it in the end.
  • Be Kind to Yourself. If you failed to conquer your resolution last year or went off track this time around, let it go! Let go of negativity and stop thinking that you’re never going to lose that weight. Chin up and pick your goals back up without shame or guilt!