DonateStress & Essential Tremor Through the Holidays
The holidays are a time for family and cheer, but making sure the house is clean, the food is ready, and the presents are wrapped and ready to be opened can be overwhelming with Essential Tremor. These factors can bring unwanted stress and depression in a time meant for happiness.
Through the endless parties, cooking, shopping and cleaning stress can take over. Just a few tips to plan ahead and simplify when you can will make your Holidays stress-free.
Through the endless parties, cooking, shopping and cleaning stress can take over. Just a few tips to plan ahead and simplify when you can will make your Holidays stress-free.
- Start planning early
- Delegate tasks and share the load
- Set realistic expectations
- Remember things don't have to be perfect
1. It’s OK to Say No
It’s okay to say no to situations that stress you out. Try sharing your to-do list with other family members. It also will help relieve some stress.
2. Accept Imperfection
Can good be good enough? “As we gear up for the holidays, we often set the bar impossibly high for ourselves and then feel upset when our celebrations don’t live up to expectations,” says Gould.
Before you start preparing, acknowledge that things may not go exactly as planned. “It’s OK if it’s not perfect. Imperfection is healthy and normal. For some of us, it might just take a little practice,” reminds Gould.
3. Take a break
Stop what you are doing. Go outside to sit or take a walk and get some fresh air and sunlight. Getting outside and some fresh air and exposure to sunlight can help relax you and lift your mood. Take a while to do what you like to do. Put some music on and sip a cup of herb tea or hot chocolate. Take a nap, go for a short walk, read a book or watch a funny movie. Laughing relaxes the whole body, and can relieve physical tension and stress.
4. Organize; Plan ahead.
Between co-workers, friends and family, it's inevitable that some commitments will end up on the same day. Make sure to plan on what you can attend in person or virtually. If you're hosting the holidays, create a menu to help you stay organized and make grocery shopping easier. If you just don't have time to bake then buy your bake goods from the grocery store or bakery.
5. If You’re in Therapy, Stay in Therapy
The holidays can bring up difficult emotions. Keeping scheduled therapy sessions helps ensure you have built-in time to explore anything that comes up. If you are going out of town and you typically meet in person, ask your therapist about a virtual meeting.
Managing mental illness is a challenge, and it can be particularly difficult during the holiday season. While the struggle can feel isolating, remember that you are far from alone. Talk with supportive friends and family and seek help from a mental professional if you need to, maintain your self-care routines, and consider including mindfulness practices into your days as you navigate your way through the holidays.
6. Meditation
7. Maintain healthy habits.
The holidays are notorious for ruining healthy habits. A short workout each morning will help your decision-making throughout the day. Encourage your family to try snow shoeing or sledding to get in extra exercise. Eat healthy snacks like fresh fruit or vegetables throughout the season and to fill up before a dinner party or celebration with tempting, but unhealthy, foods.
8. Be realistic.
You are only one person, and you can only do so much. Be realistic with how much you can handle this season. Forget about perfection, and relax and enjoy the company surrounding you.
9. Respect different opinions.
Family/friends will have different viewpoints than your own on decorations, food properness' and gifts. Try to ignore and remember it won't matter after the Holidays. Focus on your similarities, and replace tension with something productive.
It’s okay to say no to situations that stress you out. Try sharing your to-do list with other family members. It also will help relieve some stress.
2. Accept Imperfection
Can good be good enough? “As we gear up for the holidays, we often set the bar impossibly high for ourselves and then feel upset when our celebrations don’t live up to expectations,” says Gould.
Before you start preparing, acknowledge that things may not go exactly as planned. “It’s OK if it’s not perfect. Imperfection is healthy and normal. For some of us, it might just take a little practice,” reminds Gould.
3. Take a break
Stop what you are doing. Go outside to sit or take a walk and get some fresh air and sunlight. Getting outside and some fresh air and exposure to sunlight can help relax you and lift your mood. Take a while to do what you like to do. Put some music on and sip a cup of herb tea or hot chocolate. Take a nap, go for a short walk, read a book or watch a funny movie. Laughing relaxes the whole body, and can relieve physical tension and stress.
4. Organize; Plan ahead.
Between co-workers, friends and family, it's inevitable that some commitments will end up on the same day. Make sure to plan on what you can attend in person or virtually. If you're hosting the holidays, create a menu to help you stay organized and make grocery shopping easier. If you just don't have time to bake then buy your bake goods from the grocery store or bakery.
5. If You’re in Therapy, Stay in Therapy
The holidays can bring up difficult emotions. Keeping scheduled therapy sessions helps ensure you have built-in time to explore anything that comes up. If you are going out of town and you typically meet in person, ask your therapist about a virtual meeting.
Managing mental illness is a challenge, and it can be particularly difficult during the holiday season. While the struggle can feel isolating, remember that you are far from alone. Talk with supportive friends and family and seek help from a mental professional if you need to, maintain your self-care routines, and consider including mindfulness practices into your days as you navigate your way through the holidays.
6. Meditation
- Find a calm and quiet place to sit.
- Decide on your time of day. Mornings are great for most, but maybe you need a quiet break in the afternoon.
- Set your daily time limit, start for 2 -3 minutes a week.
- Don’t overthink your spot. Find a comfortable spot on the floor, chair, bed, or wherever you can relax.
- Think about your body and mind, or you stressed, busy, overthinking,
- Now slowly take a breath through your nose all the way down to your lungs. Try counting “one” as you take in the first breath, then “two” as you breathe out. Repeat this to the count of 10, then start again at one.
- If your mind wonders just take a moment and return to breathing.
- Take a moment and relax if your mind begins to think too much.
- Focus on the light, sounds around you, Keep your eyes on one spot.
- Be grateful that you had this time to yourself, smile.
7. Maintain healthy habits.
The holidays are notorious for ruining healthy habits. A short workout each morning will help your decision-making throughout the day. Encourage your family to try snow shoeing or sledding to get in extra exercise. Eat healthy snacks like fresh fruit or vegetables throughout the season and to fill up before a dinner party or celebration with tempting, but unhealthy, foods.
8. Be realistic.
You are only one person, and you can only do so much. Be realistic with how much you can handle this season. Forget about perfection, and relax and enjoy the company surrounding you.
9. Respect different opinions.
Family/friends will have different viewpoints than your own on decorations, food properness' and gifts. Try to ignore and remember it won't matter after the Holidays. Focus on your similarities, and replace tension with something productive.
The holidays are the most stressful time of the year. Study after study has shown people feel like they have less time, more responsibilities, and higher expectations during the season, all contributing to holiday stress. All while combatting the effects of seasonal depression.
Some important, practical tips can help minimize the stress that accompanies the holidays. These tips may even help you enjoy the holidays more than expected.
Some important, practical tips can help minimize the stress that accompanies the holidays. These tips may even help you enjoy the holidays more than expected.
Why are people stressed during the holidays?
1. Financial Stress
Money, gifts, decorations, and dinners can become overbearing. Organize your giving list, consider a secret Santa, draw family names. homemade gifts or food. Plan your spending ahead of time. Set your budget and stick with it. The holidays mean spending money. Make a budget and stick to it. Spending money on your loved ones is important, but it's also important to pay your energy bill. Don't buy gifts that you'll be paying off for the rest of the year.
2. Making time for everything and everyone.
Prioritize your time. Remember your time is as important as everyone and everything. Decorating and dinners can become overbearing
3. Daily Stress
What to do when things become overwhelmed dealing with normal daily stress. Talk with supportive friends and family and seek help from a mental professional if you need to, maintain your self-care routines, and consider including mindfulness practices into your days as you navigate your way through the holidays.
4. Create a relaxing surrounding.
Turn on some music, lit some citrus candles, go outside or open the windows on a sunny day. Drink some herb tea, warm apple cider, or hot chocolate is always a happiness booster.
5. Check on neighbors, family, friends who live alone.
Keep in mind that the holidays are especially difficult for those who are alone. See if you can extend an act of kindness to those you know are without family and friends during this time of year. This will boost your spirit as well as help someone in need.
6. Grief and Loss, missing a loved one.
Use the grief to honor or celebrate the loved one, tell stories, bring back good memories. Spending a holiday after a loss in the family can be difficult. Accept your feelings and open up about them to others. It may make you feel better to share. Try to switch up old traditions to ease the loss.
8. Keep things in perspective. Don't set the bar impossibly high for yourself.
When things get tense take a few deep breaths. Remember to enjoy the holidays and your family and friends.
1. Financial Stress
Money, gifts, decorations, and dinners can become overbearing. Organize your giving list, consider a secret Santa, draw family names. homemade gifts or food. Plan your spending ahead of time. Set your budget and stick with it. The holidays mean spending money. Make a budget and stick to it. Spending money on your loved ones is important, but it's also important to pay your energy bill. Don't buy gifts that you'll be paying off for the rest of the year.
2. Making time for everything and everyone.
Prioritize your time. Remember your time is as important as everyone and everything. Decorating and dinners can become overbearing
3. Daily Stress
What to do when things become overwhelmed dealing with normal daily stress. Talk with supportive friends and family and seek help from a mental professional if you need to, maintain your self-care routines, and consider including mindfulness practices into your days as you navigate your way through the holidays.
4. Create a relaxing surrounding.
Turn on some music, lit some citrus candles, go outside or open the windows on a sunny day. Drink some herb tea, warm apple cider, or hot chocolate is always a happiness booster.
5. Check on neighbors, family, friends who live alone.
Keep in mind that the holidays are especially difficult for those who are alone. See if you can extend an act of kindness to those you know are without family and friends during this time of year. This will boost your spirit as well as help someone in need.
6. Grief and Loss, missing a loved one.
Use the grief to honor or celebrate the loved one, tell stories, bring back good memories. Spending a holiday after a loss in the family can be difficult. Accept your feelings and open up about them to others. It may make you feel better to share. Try to switch up old traditions to ease the loss.
8. Keep things in perspective. Don't set the bar impossibly high for yourself.
When things get tense take a few deep breaths. Remember to enjoy the holidays and your family and friends.
