7 Ways to Deal With Holiday Stress

We know shopping hustle, crowd, and back-to-back diet-busting parties can sometimes be overwhelming. That’s why we’re here with a list of 7 expert-endorsed ways to help you dodge the seasonal blues and stay happy, healthy, and energized.

1. Get Sunlight

Sunlight increases the production of feel-good serotonin and helps relieve Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Every year millions of Americans experience the symptoms of SAD. To ease SAD symptoms, make a habit to spend some time outdoors or near a window on sunny days. You can also consult with your doctor. Your doctor can recommend you a phototherapy treatment (a treatment using a box that emits full-spectrum light).

2. Squeeze This Point

Squeeze the ‘Hoku spot’ in your hand. It’s a fleshy place between your index finger and thumb. Applying firm pressure at that point for just 30 seconds can reduce stress and tension in your upper body. So if you start feeling tensed or stressed due to the holiday chaos, squeeze your hand to calm down.

3. Go Tech-Free

Constant message and email alerts on your smartphone can be exhausting. It mounts stress levels, especially in women. So when you’re on vacation, try to go tech-free. Practice to turn off your internet connection every day when you sit with your family. Practicing this every day will help you enjoy your holiday get-together at the best.

4. Reach Out

If you feel lonely or isolated in holidays, you can join any social, community, or other religious events. Such groups can offer support and companionship. Moreover, volunteering your time to help others is a great way of cheering yourself and broaden your friendships.

5. Learn To Say NO

You should say ‘YES’ when you really want to. Saying yes when you don’t want can make you feel restless and overwhelmed. Don’t let your friends and colleagues fade away your happiness. They will understand if you can’t participate in any activity or event. If you can’t say no to them, try to remove some other thing from your agenda to make up for the lost time.

6. Don’t Overschedule

If you’re feeling stressed due to your vacation agenda, make some amendments in it. Schedule your time and work on things that you can manage. Remember: It’s always good to slow down a bit.

7. Plan a real vacation

Taking off from your work for at least four or five days lowers your stress level. If you have a family and kids, opt for a staycation during the holidays. Plan with your partner to take turns with your kid-duty or you can send your kids at their grandma’s place

Practicing these tips properly can help you stay happy, energized, and healthy at your holidays. Don’t stress out yourself on anything. Know any other tips that can help people to deal with stress, do let us know in the comment section below.