Stress and the Holidays
I know we all feel the stress of the holidays, even though it’s our happiest time of the year for our children. The holidays are known for bringing joy and laughter to our homes. With that joy, comes stress and anxiety to get it all done and please others while doing it! The hustle and bustle is real. December calendars are full and there’s not a second for rest and relaxation! Our intentions are good but we say “yes” to too many obligations, family and friends responsibilities, and to our children. We don’t say yes to ourselves enough and we never say NO. How do we manage it all? Here are a few tricks to getting through the holidays peacefully.A Message from Dr. West
1. Know your triggers- what makes you anxious or stressed? Being late or not having a gift. If you know your triggers you can prepare for them. When the mind feels prepared it’s more at ease!
2. Be mindful of a simple task-when we are anxious or stressed, we feel out of control. Being mindful of one simple task like eating/walking/drinking/breathing helps remind us we’re in control of our choices. Choose a task and imagine its your first time doing it, experience it will all your senses. Begin to feel in control and calm in your experiences.
3. Slow down- when we are anxious or stressed, everything speeds up like our thoughts race, heart speeds up, and breathing accelerates. This makes it difficult to think clearly and make calm good decisions. At the first sign of this hurried, hustle and bustle, acceleration- move slower, be intentional to do one thing not ten, and be patient with yourself and others. Check yourself to see where else you need to slow down and do one thing intentionally to be more peaceful.
Merry Christmas to all and peace in 2018,
Brooke West Ph.D., LPC-S, RPT-S
1. Know your triggers- what makes you anxious or stressed? Being late or not having a gift. If you know your triggers you can prepare for them. When the mind feels prepared it’s more at ease!
2. Be mindful of a simple task-when we are anxious or stressed, we feel out of control. Being mindful of one simple task like eating/walking/drinking/breathing helps remind us we’re in control of our choices. Choose a task and imagine its your first time doing it, experience it will all your senses. Begin to feel in control and calm in your experiences.
3. Slow down- when we are anxious or stressed, everything speeds up like our thoughts race, heart speeds up, and breathing accelerates. This makes it difficult to think clearly and make calm good decisions. At the first sign of this hurried, hustle and bustle, acceleration- move slower, be intentional to do one thing not ten, and be patient with yourself and others. Check yourself to see where else you need to slow down and do one thing intentionally to be more peaceful.
Merry Christmas to all and peace in 2018,
Brooke West Ph.D., LPC-S, RPT-S
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