Take Control of Holiday Stress and Anxiety
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything. Plato
The holiday season can be filled with joy and wonderful moments with family and friends, but for many it often brings the unwanted guests of anxiety, stress, and sad memories. For older adults, feelings of isolation, aloneness, physical ailments, or managing socialization due to the uncertainly about COVID-19, RSV, and Influenza. Lists of to-dos and demands on our time, finances and expectations add up. The good news? With some practical tips, our WWURA members can minimize holiday stress and find more time for enjoyment. Ask yourself what it is about holidays that cause you stress and anxiety. Acknowledge feelings of sadness if a loved one has died or moved away. Acknowledge feelings that you didn’t accomplish this year what you wanted to accomplish but there is always next year.
Tips on handling holiday stress: acknowledge feelings, reach out, be realistic, set aside differences, put old negative feelings on the backburner or burn them up, plan and prepare a budget, take a break from the season’s hustle and bustle, and take a break and go for a walk. See WWURA Health Notes for December 2022, 2018, and 2014 for examples of holiday stress reducers.
From The How of Happiness, doing the following can lead to holiday happiness: “expressing appreciation (gratitude) of what one has; being optimistic; helping others by performing acts of kindness; staying connected with friends and family, especially during the holidays; using stress coping skills when negative things happen; maintaining physical energy level because it does affect emotional and mental health; and savoring life’s joys by remembering that simple things bring rewards.”
“I think cookies are sort of the unsung sweet, you know? They're incredibly popular. But everybody thinks of cakes and pies and fancier desserts before they think of cookies. A plate of cookies is a great way to end dinner and really nice to share at the holidays.” Quote by Bobby Flay: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/holidays#S1j3rkoMidY0cQE4.99
Source
National Institute of Health: https://www.positivehealthwellness.com/infographics/3-tips-managing-holiday- stress-infographic/