We made it through the Thanksgiving holiday with our family and friends… and we survived… just barely… without the cops being called, the neighbors posting things on the HOA Facebook or any embarrassing videos/photos being posted on social media. Actually, Mom and I enjoyed a very quiet Thanksgiving. We ran the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5k with TCMA, then came home and took a nap. I went up to visit some friends while Mom stayed home and watched Hallmark Movies. When I got home, we had our traditional sweet potato casserole and some steaks. Honey was working a 10-hour shift after his record-breaking 5k. I was a bit happy it was a quiet day for us.
Why do the holidays have to be so stressful? The next day, mom and I went out for our annual sock shopping trip. I was in shock at the amount of stress I felt from the people around me in the store. It wasn’t what anyone said, in particular, but just the stress that they exuded. Almost like every single person was just one step away from snapping the head off the person next to them. Not that I saw any real head-snapping (*snaps fingers*) but the feeling was there.
Our biggest stress is the annual family pictures with Santa. I scheduled it for a Sunday morning because there are a lot of factors that go into Santa pictures. It throws off everyone’s routine doing this but really there are very few other options. However, the stress comes because the kids cannot find their clothes to wear (looks at dresser full of clothes), Honey not being happy with the change in his routine (and his desire to be someone an hour early) and actually this year, I was a bit stressed at the change in my routine too. Since we got to the mall early though, I took the time to add some extra steps to my day and take a short walk up the mall corridor. It was still early so the mall was not crowded at all. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular or in a hurry to go anywhere, I just walked. Pictures done, Honey off to work, and us off to our Sunday errands.
I got to thinking, however, how stressed people are during holidays. There are presents to gather, hide and wrap (or is that wrap and hide). There is a tree to get and decorate. What about the Christmas lights outside? Who is going to hang those and when will it get done? Let’s not mention the cousin’s, sister’s, ex-husband’s best friend’s son who is alone for the holidays and shows up the morning of the big holiday gather. There you are trying to rush around, make another stocking for someone, as well as figure out what you can give that person for Christmas. Christmas cookie exchanges, friends dinners, company parties (are those still a thing post Covid?)… It all contributes to stress!!!
The number of heart-related deaths in the U.S. increases by 5 percent during the December and New Year holidays, according to a study from the University of California, San Diego and Tufts University researchers. Daily visits to hospitals for heart failure can increase by 33 percent during the four days after Christmas, according to a separate study.
So, what do we do? We need to take a few moments each day to decrease our stress load. We’ve talked previously about goal-setting and prioritizing our tasks. We’ve covered how to make those lists, or work with the things we have in order for us to keep track of the tasks we have going on. I use lists at Christmas time in order to keep track of presents that I’ve bought for whom. However, the biggest thing to do is work through the stress through guided meditation and/or yoga. It’s nice to find a video that I can do both but I’ve posted some videos below that are either meditation or yoga. These videos are stress relieving and clear my head of the stressful and negative thoughts. Maybe, trying some of it will help you too.
10-Minute Guided Meditation for Beginners to Clear Thoughts:
Ample Movement Yoga Routine
Goodful Guided Meditation
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