Holiday Stress Can Be Hazardous To Your Health

We listen to our patients! And we can say with certainty that women feel the stress of the holidays more than men. Many of the activities that make the holidays special are carried out by the woman – gifts for loved ones, holiday cooking and celebrations, hosting guests and family in your home.

Those responsibilities can lead to a sense of being overwhelmed, and even take a toll on your health. Here are three important but easy tips to keep in mind during your holiday celebrations: 

1. Don’t abandon healthy habits. Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence adds to your stress and guilt. Have a healthy snack before parties so you don’t go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks. Continue to get plenty of sleep and physical activity.

2. Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. A short walk outside can do wonders. Look around at what you see to get “out of your head”. You will be amazed at what this simple action can do!

 3. Be realistic. The holidays don’t have to be perfect or just like last year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose to hold on to a few, and be open to creating new ones. For example, holiday dinners can be potlucks, with shared responsibilities; they don’t have to be an exercise in perfect decorations and menus.

Dr. Litrel talks about a family holiday celebration that didn’t start off in quite the right way in this excerpt from his new book “Family – A MisMatch Made In Heaven: Surviving True Love, Children, and Other Blessings In Disguise“. Click here and scroll down to read on...