Do you feel the stress in the holiday air? I sure do.
The other day I was walking to Trader Joe’s and three different times cars were speeding through the crosswalk. But “that’s the hustle and stress of the holidays“. Except you actually have a choice of whether you want to engage in your stress.
Recently I have spent a lot of time coaching my clients on how to not let holiday stress affect them…even when everyone else around them is bonkers. That’s why I created: 3 Solutions to Combating Holiday Stress
1. Practice a breathing exercise
Tis the season to be extremely heightened in stress then triggered. It’s easy to react when you are feeling overwhelmed. Conflict is healthy but there are ways to combat it from escalating. If something comes up that totally triggers you take a pause.
Solution: Use my client proof 20-count breathing exercise. 1. Pause. 2. Count to 20 slowly. Breathe in on the odds and out on the evens. 3. Focus on your breath. 4. If you still feel upset at 20 then start over.
2. Create a “self-care” schedule
We give so much of ourselves during the holidays from giving gifts to hosting get-togethers. As a result, we forget to give to ourselves. This can cause a serious imbalance in your self-care routine.
Solution: Create a schedule that incorporates balance. Add in 3 weekly self-care items. Example: Sunday is meal prep for the week, Wednesday is a walk after work, Friday is meditation.
3. Don’t justify anything
Family and friends love to dig into your life around the holiday season. Their intentions may be good but let’s face it, it only causes more stress. As a result, you might find yourself justifying why you are not in a serious relationship or are in your current career role.
Solution: You owe no one an answer. You can politely keep it light and say, “Thanks for caring about me by asking me about X, Y & Z. How have things been with you?” If you’re feeling a bit under pressure remember this quote, “It’s none of my business what people think about me.”
Ready to combat that stress?
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