| The Holidays are more stressful and overwhelming, | | | | 2. Eat Well |
| now. | | | | Moderation is the key. Do not use alcohol or drugs for |
| Do you want to be happier and healthier this holiday | | | | stress management. Do not "over" celebrate. Avoid |
| season? | | | | fast foods. |
| Would you like to enjoy the holidays more? | | | | 3. Avoid Caffeine |
| This article is devoted to Holiday Stress Survival Tips | | | | Minimize the impact of caffeine on your life. |
| to improve quality of life through the holidays. | | | | 4. Plan the Holiday... Set some limits |
| This holiday season will be stressfilled. World economic | | | | Do not over spend your financial and emotional |
| swings and terrorism have created conditions that | | | | resources. |
| have changed our holiday celebrations. Attitudes | | | | 5. Control Your Expectations of: |
| towards travel, being with family, celebration in the | | | | Happiness, Joy, Sadness, and Loneliness |
| face of fear and sadness, will make this year's holiday | | | | 6. Be Nice to Others |
| season different than in years past. Adjustments will | | | | Give compliments and smile. Around negative, anxious, |
| help to create new ways of participating in the holiday | | | | or rude people, take a breath and remember that you |
| events. These can be both positive and negative. | | | | do not need to get pulled into other people's holiday |
| Consider new traditions in self-care. Search for | | | | misery or their craziness. |
| community support that will open your heart to the | | | | 7. Reach Out for Support |
| joys that are possible in this season. | | | | Talk with "stable" friends or family, or clergy, or mental |
| Remember the things that are the most stressful are | | | | health counselors. |
| the things that you care the most about, but have the | | | | 8. Humor Helps... Have Fun |
| least control over. World events, the economy, the | | | | Laugh daily, if possible. |
| way people respond, and our families (and children) are | | | | 9. Stay in the Present! |
| major stressors that we wish we could control, but | | | | Mentally and emotionally, do not be consumed by |
| often can not. | | | | things that happened in the past or fear events in the |
| 1. Schedule Time for Self-Care! | | | | future. Enjoy the people you are with and make the |
| Regular exercise and time for stress management are | | | | very best of the situation that you are in. |
| a must. Find what techniques work best for you, and | | | | 10. Find the True Spirit of the Holidays |
| use these tools. This is non-negotiable time devoted | | | | Share this those people who you love or care about. |
| for your health and well being. | | | | Please take good care of yourself. |