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December 18th, 2018
Source: mercola.com
7 Strategies to Help Handle Holiday Stress
Festive stress” is ruining the holidays for many, with 31 percent describing them not as joyful and festive — but frantic
The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but a shocking 45 percent of Americans said they’d prefer to skip the season entirely because it brings so much financial pressure. Nearly half of those surveyed by payday loan provider Think Finance said their holiday stress levels were high or extremely high, and that was just in relation to holiday expenses.
Holiday Stress Can Quickly Derail Your Health
Stress can quickly turn you into a Grinch for the holidays while at the same time taking a serious toll on your physical and emotional health, influencing everything from your mood and brain function to your heart health and risk of both acute illness and chronic disease, including cancer.
When you become stressed your body also secretes cortisol and glucagon, both of which affect your blood sugar levels. The end result is that your body must produce more insulin to keep your blood sugar levels in check, and when you’re stressed out, your blood sugar levels will probably stay elevated much longer than they would otherwise, ultimately promoting weight gain and Type 2 diabetes.
Slash Holiday Stress With Seven Healthy Habits
- Exercise
- Emotional Freedom Techniques
- Meditation and Proper Breathing
- Proper Sleep
- Optimize Vitamin D
- Tend to Your Gut
- Essential Oils, Especially Lavender
Cutting Back to Reduce Holiday Stress
If you find that the holidays have lost their joy and magic, leaving you with nothing but a giant to-do list and debt come January, it may be time to get back to the basics and celebrate a holiday focused on gratitude, friends and family instead of decorations, presents and obligations.
By cutting back on your holiday demands (many of which are likely self-imposed), you can reduce the source of your stress and free up mental and physical energy, along with time and financial resources, to devote to the things that make you happy.
Oftentimes, you’ll find that less really is more, and the simplest activities — time spent playing board games or taking a walk in the woods with family — are the ones you’ll remember and value most. Make a point to protect the holiday traditions that truly bring you joy and give yourself permission to discard those that don’t.
