The holidays are an exciting time for many, but for others, it’s a
time filled with a lot of stress. Whether grappling with never-ending
to-do lists, shopping for gifts or decorating your home, things can
quickly get overwhelming.
According to the American global health insurance company Cigna’s 360° Well-Being Survey for
2018, Indonesia is one of the world’s least-stressed nations. Only 75
percent of people say they suffer from stress, compared to a global
average of 86 percent. But this percentage often goes up during the
holiday season.
If you’re currently feeling the holiday stress, look no further.
We’ll cover seven steps you can take to keep your holiday stress in
check.
.
.
Start with a plan
Planning for the holiday season is the first step to reducing stress.
Speaking of the gift-exchange tradition, you may want to avoid
last-minute shopping sprees, so that you can spend more time with your
loved ones.
Buy your gifts a few weeks before the holidays. Decide which stores
you’ll visit and how much time you’ll spend shopping. If you plan on
buying online, order everything days in advance to avoid shipping
delays.
Traveling during the holidays? Be sure to plan for that as well.
Despite the rainy and slightly higher temperatures in December, places
like Bali and Jakarta become crowded during the holiday season.
Give yourself enough time to plan how you will travel, where you will
stay and what activities you’ll do. Stick to your plan as closely as
possible, but be flexible to change your plan if something doesn’t go
right.
Keep your finances in check
The holiday season is also a time when everyone expects to spend a
lot of money. Even though spending money during this time of year is
inevitable, you can keep things under control by creating a budget.
Take some time to review your finances and figure out how much you
can spend on gifts. Don’t buy expensive items that could affect your
ability to cover your bills. You can also think of creative gifts that don’t involve money.
For example, you can offer to help a family member set up decoration
or babysit your friend’s child for a weekend, so they can spend quality
time with their partner. They’ll appreciate you for it.
.
.
Set aside time for yourself
Giving yourself some alone time is another excellent way to manage
seasonal stress. You need to set some time during the day to relax and
clear your mind. Even if it's just 30 minutes, you’ll feel a lot better
when you allow yourself some alone time.
There are many ways to unwind. You can go out to a park and enjoy
nature, find a quiet place in your home, or listen to music. It doesn’t
matter what you do. Just find something that will get your mind off all
the commotion of the holidays.
If you live in Jakarta, you can visit mangrove forest in Pantai Indah Kapuk
to get some alone time. The place has a relaxing atmosphere and is
perfect for escaping the holiday crowd in the city center. Or better
yet, you can go to Bogor for a quick escape.
Get physical
Exercise might be the last thing on your mind during the holiday
season, but it can help you reduce your stress level and improve your
mood. You don’t have to do intense, long workouts to feel the benefits
of exercise.
Start with a goal of doing at least 15 minutes of physical activity at
least three times a week. You can pick any exercise you want — whether
it's walking, jogging, biking, swimming or other sport. Stick to a
routine, and you’ll notice yourself feeling a lot more relaxed during
the holidays.
If you don’t have a gym membership, you can also use the holiday
season as a reason to get one. Instead of waiting for the new year,
start your membership weeks before the holidays begin. Doing so will
help you build the habit of exercise into your daily schedule.
Watch what you eat
While it’s important to keep your body in shape, you should also keep
track of what you eat. It’s very tempting to overindulge in unhealthy
food when you’re feeling stressed out, but this can do more harm than
good.
Instead of filling up on unhealthy snacks and fatty foods, add some
fruits and vegetables to your diet. If you’re hosting a holiday dinner,
you can also change your recipe to offer your guests healthier options.
Eating an occasional candy bar or dessert is okay. Just don’t overdo
it. Keep your consumption of junk food moderate and you’ll feel a lot
better about yourself.
Express more gratitude
One way to feel less stressed during the holidays is to think about all the people and things that make you feel grateful. Research shows that people who practice daily gratitude live happier and healthier lives.
Gratitude also helps you build stronger relationships and enjoy
positive experiences. There’s always something to be grateful for,
whether it's your family, friends, community or pets.
The more you can appreciate what you already have, the less stress
you’ll feel over the holidays. You’ll also be able to put everything
into perspective and see that things aren’t as bad as you imagine them
to be.
Get professional help if you need it
If you’ve tried everything you can but still end up feeling stressed
and irritable, then it may be a sign of a bigger problem, such as
depression. In this case, the best option would be to contact a doctor
or mental health professional.
Your doctor will be able to explain different strategies you can use to improve your mood and prescribe medication if needed.
Summing up the above, you should be ready that things may not always
go as you wish during the holidays. That’s okay — you don’t need to
drive yourself crazy trying to make everything perfect. Take the
pressure off yourself and accept things as they happen.
If you’re unable to visit your friends or family over the holiday
season for whatever reason, you can still keep in touch with them
through technology. Send a thoughtful text message, call them or use
social media to stay in touch.
Surrounding yourself with those who care about you will not only put
you in the holiday spirit, but it will also relieve your stress quickly.
Source - TheJakartaPost
