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Reducing the cost of personal stress at Christmas
Unresolved stress is costly – and the bottom line is that it can cost us our health and does cost many relationships at this time of year.
Unresolved, chronic stress means that we are constantly experiencing low levels of the life-saving stress responses: fight and flight.
So as a rule of thumb, check out your feelings. What makes you annoyed, irritable, angry or resentful? How do you respond – do you bottle it up, shout, argue, or exercise to burn it off?
What makes you worried, tearful, or withdrawn? Does this affect your sleep patterns, concentration, eating, smoking, alcohol intake?
People say they don’t know how to deal with stress, they know what to do but don’t do it, or they don’t have time. When they learn some simple techniques and tools, they are surprised at how little time they need!
Most of this is commonsense, what you know already, but are you doing it?
We have limited time until Christmas, so how to manage that time?
Make a good list, divide it into what is urgent, what is important, what is urgent and important, what is not urgent, and what is not important or urgent. Where are you spending your time?
When we are under pressure and feeling stressed we can lose the ability to think clearly and make good decisions, and we can spend longer on tasks.
Stop multi-tasking. Turn off your mobile, take a break from your emails and computer, and give yourself a block of uninterrupted time to complete important tasks, or to relax.
Increase your energy. You can do this by eating fresh fruit and vegetables that have bright colours, red, green, yellow, for example. They will have more nutrition than black coffee and a chocolate bar. We need to nourish body and mind. Reduce processed foods, eat more freshly prepared meals.
Move your body, get up from the computer and walk around, get a drink of water, not tea or coffee, many of us are dehydrated. Find some exercise or sport, take a brisk walk, bop around in the kitchen, and use stairs instead of lifts. How else can you keep moving? You will see opportunities in your daily life when you look.
Rest, relaxation, recreation – do something creative you enjoy, play games, sing, art work, photography, puzzles, something that gives you a complete break from work. Watching too much tv can have a stimulating effect on the brain, and delay good sleep. Get enough sleep to renew energy, and keep well
Does your immune system take a holiday when you do, and spoil your holiday breaks? This can be the result of unresolved stress, and there are more bugs around in the winter so more demands on our immune systems.
You know your own situation; see where you can make one small change in each area – food, drink, exercise, and rest/relaxation.
Paradoxically, by taking the time to renew and boost your energy, you will accomplish things more efficiently, and have more time to enjoy life.
And finally, smile – this has a positive effect on brain chemicals and will lift your mood. Better yet, laugh!
When Christmas Day arrives, what is done is done. What is not done, well, will you or anyone remember or even know in six months time?
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.” (The Serenity Prayer)
Copyright 2011 Jenny Cooper
