Coping Up With The Challenges During The Christmas Season

 

The holidays can be when stress levels could just spike up, but managing stress can help you have a happy and healthy Christmas.

Whether we like it or not, there is no stopping Christmas! Whether you are an entrepreneur, employee, or a stay-at-home mom, I am sure that each one of you undergoes some level of anxiety during the Christmas season. The feeling may be brought about by too much excitement. Seeing friends and relatives after so many years. Anticipating the traffic in going to different places in the city, setting a budget for the Noche Buena, or finding the perfect gift for your loved ones. It is all exhausting, but it is part of celebrating the season.

However, it is unfortunate that some would feel too overwhelmed with all the work needed during the Christmas season. Some would literally fall ill not just because of financial concerns but physically feeling drained altogether. We should enjoy and share the Christmas spirit rather than allow ourselves to just shy away from all these. Since we should celebrate Christmas no matter how simple it can be.

Stress is Real…even during the holidays.

Christmas is indeed the season of joy, love, and sharing. However, along with all these positive feelings come stress. Yes, STRESS! One may get so overwhelmed having to deal with so many things simultaneously. Here are some sample situations that may stress you out during the holidays and solutions on how you can get rid of being burdened with stress.

• I am more stressed looking at the streets, thinking if I will ever be in time for my meeting. Just seeing the crowded streets as early as 7:00 am would literally tire you down. But, we cannot allow traffic to rule our lives. Yes, we are burdened with terrible traffic, but we can do something about it. So, let’s say your meeting is at 10:00 am, be prepared as early as 6:00 to leave your home before 7:00 am. Also, look for alternative routes to avoid the usual battle neck you often encounter.
• Parties can be just about every day. And even if you just choose which party to go to, you may just be tempted to eat everything on the table since, for sure, everything prepared is delicious. But, that can be harmful to your health. It is stressful enough to get away from those sweets, but indulging in every high-cholesterol, high-fat food may induce medical concerns. Don’t let yourself fall into that hole. Remember, it is so much easier to gain weight than lose it. So, develop real strong self-control. Never over-indulge.

Gaining 5-10 lbs during the Christmas season is inevitable. Losing it, however, may take months.

Most people gain about 5-10 lbs just during the Christmas Season, and it would take them months before they lose them.

While Christmas may be the season of merriment, it is wise to choose your activities well. There may be so many invitations coming your way – through SMS, email, phone call, etc. You cannot always say yes to each invitation. Probably, just select the ones that truly matter most to you. It is not like being a snob, but rather, it is efficient to just be in places that your presence is significant.

• If you love sending Christmas notes to friends and families, sending them e-cards saves you a lot of time. Although sending them through snail mail may seem more personal, send them as early as November if you consider mailing your cards. Some friends from the US have sent me Christmas cards weeks before Christmas, and it arrives in the Philippines about 2 weeks after Christmas.
• Master the art of being ahead. This means you should avoid cramming yourself in finding the Christmas decorations just a few days before Christmas. This is genuinely stressful, especially when you have to mind the parties you need to go to, buy Christmas presents for your godchildren, etc. Moreover, when you buy Christmas decorations as early as October, you may find many more options.
• We love wrapping gifts for our friends and loved ones. While doing it yourself may mean putting your heart into every gift that you wrap, it is not a crime to seek help from your spouse or children to help you with wrapping the presents. You can actually cut out the ribbon ahead of time so that you can decorate your gift boxes and add that special touch.
• Christmas sale comes as early as October. Don’t force yourself to squeeze into crowded malls in December. You always have the option to shop online. But of course, you must do your online shopping at least 3 weeks before Christmas. So that it is delivered to your doorstep before Christmas. Since the couriers would be swarmed with so many orders, the standard delivery between 3-5 days may take more than 7 days during the holidays.
• If you can’t avoid shopping at the mall, at least make sure you have made a list of what you intend to buy so you would no longer need to come back because you have forgotten to buy one or two things. This avoids the trouble of dealing with the traffic and the burden of having to push yourself into a crowd.
• Take some time to relax. Make your time at home a memorable one with your family. You can do Christmas activities together at home, like decorating the house or sitting under the Christmas tree and bonding.

Stress can impact our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. If left unchecked, it can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Therefore, we should always make sure that we eat right and live a healthy lifestyle. The Christmas season should be a joyous occasion for everyone. You should not push too hard to the point of making yourself tired or sick. Know how to balance your time with your family and work to enjoy the holidays with your family. 

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You may contact Armando “Butz” Bartolome for questions and more information.

By email: [email protected]

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