The holidays are upon us and holiday stress can take over if we let it. As most holidays are now commercialized with pumpkin patches and tree lots, there is one holiday that is often overlooked. That is Thanksgiving.
Why is this when there is so much to be thankful for? President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving to be a national holiday in 1863. Many records note that the original holiday lasted three days. Three days is about how long it takes in our family, as we visit and share meals with multiple family members. It can either be a special time, or stressful time to visit with those you don’t see as often.
With work and end-of year timelines, holiday stress can creep up faster than a rising afternoon tide. Taking the time to stop and reflect seems like an unobtainable solution. But I suggest you take short breaks in your day–even a couple minutes–to enjoy a few of the simple things in life. Remember, life is a gift and you choose how to use that gift!
7 Ideas to lower Holiday Stress
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- Breathe in, savoring the aroma of your first cup of coffee, tea or cocoa of the day. Focus on thankfulness and gratefulness.
- Exercise with weights-especially for your arms and shoulders. Work with a trusted trainer to show you how to best utilize them.
- Take a walk-even five minutes up and down a block will do. For a longer walk, make it at least 30 minutes. One of my favorite times to walk is at dusk when I see the twinkling lights of the city. As you walk, take time to breathe deeply.
- Stand at your workstation, stretching and taking deep breaths. You don’t always need to sit and work, especially while reading or looking over documents.
- Write in your journal. Even a couple sentences will suffice. Put your thoughts down and leave your stress on the page!
- Take a bath. Add lavender epson salts to enhance the experience. You don’t have to spend a lot- there are usually large bags available at your local grocery store.
- Download the FREE Christmas Devotional and spend a couple minutes each day to apply the focused principles that are purposeful and genuine.
- Put on some ambient music while you work. (Check out Wayfarer’s Journey)
DEBORAH JOHNSON: Providing tools and inspiration to gain momentum and get unstuck in life for Women at Halftime. Speaking, Concerts, In-Depth Workshops. Most recent book Bad Code: Overcoming Bad Mental Code That Sabotages Your Life! You can reach Deborah the following ways:Twitter:@DebJohnsonWorks • YouTube ; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.johnson; Websites: https://GoalsForYourLife.com; https://DJWorksMusic.com[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
