How To Remain Sane & Banish Holiday Stress
A Simple, Four-Step Forumula Will Change How You Cope With The Holidays Forever, Says Lifestyle Expert
(PRWEB) December 18, 2004 -- With the holiday season bursting around us, we begin to recognize the inevitable rise of the stress monster associated with the season. However, everyone can survive the holidays without burning out if they apply a simple, four-step personal" therapy approach, according to Jo Anne White, Ph D.
All too often, we carry the burden of an emotional boulder during the holiday season because we want to make everything perfect for our families and loved ones," says White, a Cherry Hill, NJ-based therapist and professor at Temple University. Were exhausted and emotionally beaten up by the last week in December, murmuring silent prayers that its over."
But holidays dont have to be a chain of stress-related events that leave us emotionally gasping, says White.
Apply the L-I-V-E principle for dealing with the holidays and you just might find that youve not only throttled that rise of the inevitable stress monster but that the season really begins to feel like a holiday," White says.
L = Living With Lines. Accept that our perception of time during the holiday season changes, best measured by the growing lines we face every day. Whether its at the mall, a restaurant or the post office, the lines get longer. In our frantic push to get things done, we forget that everyone else is rushing around, too. Yet were perplexed that everything seems to take so long. Expect the rush and put a chill on your anger factor. Remember a truism that virtually never fails: However long you think it will take, prepare for it taking more time. Read in line, talk to the person next to you or buy yourself a holiday CD and enjoy it by humming tunes when traffic backs up on the way to the mall. Time changes during the holiday season. Change with it or suffer.
I = Individual Day. No matter how busy you are, arrange a date for yourself. Do something that you enjoy. If you cant take off an entire day, try an afternoon or morning. Dont put off going to the craft store, library or art museum if thats what gives you comfort and joy. Allow yourself a little treat. Pampering yourself is NOT a sin. Its a form of positive mental health when used with discretion. If you knew you would die in two weeks, would you deny yourself? Assert your individual rights by doing something that you enjoy and that makes you happy.
V = Volunteer. Yes, helping or sharing with others really does fill the soul and nourish our spirit because weve done something worthwhile. The spirit of giving is NOT about how much or how expensive something is. Its about leaving someone with the idea that you care and that they matter. Spend just a few hours with someone less fortunate and you might see that, just maybe, your problems would appear like a blessing to others. What if your child was in a cancer ward during the holidays or a doctor told you the week before Christmas that a parent had Alzheimers disease? Pain comes in all sizes and shapes. One cure for controlling your pain is to help someone with theirs.
E = Energy. Thoughts and emotions are energy. They have a direct impact on how energized or lackluster we act. Our energy levels directly follow our thoughts. Negative emotions and thoughts will deplete and drain our energy systems. But by focusing on the positive, you really can raise your energy level. Surprisingly, these thoughts can be about the small blessings and positive things in our lives, from simply sharing time with a sibling to accepting a small commendation at work. Turn on the positive energy switch. Dont overthink about what you dont have, simply be happy for what you do have and what is under your control.
For more information on how to cope during the holiday season from Dr. White, contact her at 856-874-0049 or at joanne@drjoannewhite.com.
About Jo Anne White, Ph.D -- Dr. White is a life counselor based in Cherry Hill, NJ, and has helped many people overcome personal challenges, reach personal goals, improve their careers and balance their family life. Her Web site (www.drjoannwhite.com) provides a wealth of self-help resources. She also created TotalSense®, a seminar that helps participants realize their potential in their careers, personal pursuits and family life.
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