Keep holiday stress at bay with these 10 tips

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, maybe birthdays and anniversaries are all crowded into the next month and a half. There may have been layoffs in your family. Maybe job changes have affected you. Health issues a challenge? All this may color your outlook of this time of year.

All of us have periodic hurdles to overcome. Whether it affects our vacations, summers, hunting season, or whatever we have going on. There are limits to what we can accomplish or take on.

The time of year, though it may not seem so at the moment, is inconsequential to what we are trying to get done. The fact of the matter is that life comes at us in many different forms, in its own time and to whatever degree it chooses. We have very little control over it or its severity. Often it feels as though Life is targeting us!

During the holiday season it especially seems urgent to stretch, to hurry, to get that last toy, to get the perfect ham, buy the biggest turkey, etc. The reality is we are not bound by these things we are bound by our perception of these things. When it just seems to be too much there are things we can do to put things into perspective:

1. Split tasks with your significant other. No one person should have to do it all.
2. Be satisfied with “good enough”. No one is perfect
3. Limit or throw away your shopping list. None of us need everything we ask for.
4. Drop expensive rituals but keep you usual daily rituals. Predictability and the time spent together is the important part.
5. Keep some fresh Lemons around the house. Research has shown that Lemon sent boosts mood.
6. Schedule breaks during the day. It helps to center us.
7. Don’t hesitate to ask for help. We all need it from time to time.
8. Don’t try new recipes. Stick to what you know.
9. Sneak in a brisk walk outside. The cool fresh air will help us relax.
10. When it is all said and done, regardless of beliefs, regardless of time, regardless of money or lack thereof, it is time spent with those we care about and who care about us that is important.

The fact that we, in one sense, surrender to the holiday season instead of enjoying it is our own fault. We do have control over more than we think. Set budgets, plan ahead, and do not do things that you believe are the expectations. Usually those expectations are placed on us by ourselves.

Jeff Rice is the director of Campbell County Health Behavioral Health Services at Campbell County Memorial Hospital. Behavioral Health Services provides the Northeastern Wyoming community with compassionate, confidential and comprehensive treatment of behavioral disorders, mental illness and substance abuse treatment following detox. Appointments are available Monday–Friday from 8 am–5 pm. Call 307.688.5000 or visit www.cchwyo.org/BHS.