Managing Holiday Stress
{ By Miranda Martin brought to you by VivoDoc }
The holidays can be a joyful, fulfilling time– but they can also be a stressful time. If you’re experiencing some holiday stress or anxiety, these tips from the medical professionals (and our friends!) at VivoDoc can help you relax, recharge, and regain control this holiday season.
Tips for Managing Holiday Stress: Better Sleep, Deep Breathing, Boundary Setting, and Therapy
Sometimes, the small things we can control and make adjustments to in our daily routine make all the difference. Two ways to reduce the stress that are simple and effective include prioritizing better sleep and practicing relaxing, deep breathing techniques.
By prioritizing better sleep (which means aiming to sleep at least 7 hours a night, uninterrupted), our bodies can experience benefits in many areas, from our immune system functioning more optimally to feeling better rested and less “on edge” (read: stressed!) during the day. Set a bedtime for yourself and always aim for 7 hours of sleep a night (at least), if possible, and make better sleep a priority in your nighttime routine.
Another small, simple adjustment to make that aids in reducing stress is using deep breathing techniques and breathing exercises to properly oxygenate the blood (and brain!) and make yourself feel more at ease. Are you feeling stressed about all those presents you still haven’t wrapped? It may seem counterintuitive but stop for a moment instead of rushing in, and take some deep, steady breaths– in through the nose, out through the mouth. Do this for a few minutes, and you really will start to feel better in moments.
If you’re looking to manage more chronic, long-term stress, it may be time to take larger measures, like practicing boundary setting to avoid your triggers or finding a therapist to begin a course of treatment with a medical professional.
Boundary setting can help you not overextend yourself, especially during the holiday season, which aids in reducing the stress brought on by “overdoing it” and trying to “people please”. If you don’t have time to attend that extra holiday party, that’s okay! Try saying to the host, “Sorry, I really have a lot on my plate this time of year– could we get together some other time and catch up in the new year?”, or, “Apologies, I’m not able to attend; however, I would love to FaceTime or have a phone conversation sometime to catch up if you’re able!”
If you’re looking for professional help and treatment for longer-term, chronic stress and anxiety, therapy is a wonderful tool that aims to reduce longer-term stress, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms through either talk therapy, behavioral therapy, or other means to remove triggers, work through emotional blocks, and beyond. You can find and book an appointment with a therapist in your area (or a telehealth therapy appointment!) with VivoDoc, and VivoDoc recommends writing down your goals (so, what you want to address or achieve) before your first therapy session to maximize your session for both you, the patient, and the therapist.
If you’re feeling stressed this holiday season, you’re not alone! Try these tips to promote relaxation and ease stress in a pinch, or address longer-term stress and anxiety with a professional therapy session, which you can book via VivoDoc’s easy-to-use patient portal. Happy Holidays– relax, and enjoy!
