Connect-Relate-Network

How Connect-Relate-Network Helps Beat Holiday Stress

With less than a week to go until Thanksgiving, it’s time to face facts: the holiday season sneaked up while I wasn’t looking. Luckily, I’ve learned a thing or two about living through the holidays with less stress and more joy. Here are some of my tips, along with how Connect-Relate-Network can help with your own stress-reduction plan.

Whether we look forward to this time with joyful anticipation or with dread, none of us is immune to becoming a victim of holiday stress. What are the signs and causes?

We may feel stressed because we’re “Christmas perfectionists.” You know the signs: every gift made from scratch; the multi-page, single-spaced Christmas letter with photos and illustrations; the 200-name Christmas card list; the hostess stuck all day in the kitchen, cooking the holiday meal, instead of enjoying her guests.

Perhaps your stress stems from unrealistic expectations. The Currier & Ives-style Victorian Christmas pictured on cards is just not possible. You may not even be able to re-create the holiday of your childhood memories. Ponder this: How accurate are your memories – and do they include how stressed your parents were?

Whatever the sources of holiday stress, don’t succumb! Strategize to survive with a lower stress level – just enough to feel the excitement, but not so much to make you or those who love you unhappy, disappointed or depressed. Here are three key points for your stress-reduction plan:

Plan Ahead – recall what was stressful about past holidays, and then develop a strategy for handling these situations. Tackle your gift list now, make a budget that won’t leave you broke or in debt come January 1, and stick with your plan. Or try what my family has done for the past few years: each person choose one name out of a hat so each family member need buy only one gift for one other family member. Imagine the time, money and anxiety saved!

Try Saying “No” – if an activity doesn’t provide enough joy and pleasure in exchange for the hassle of participating, don’t do it. Reduce the number of commitments you make so that you’ll have time to remember “the reason for the season.” (And graciously accept when others need to say “no thanks” to you.)

Simplify – is it so important to compete with the neighbors to have the most lights on your house? Must you make all your desserts from scratch? A smaller tree, fewer decorations, a frozen pie baked in the oven, filling the house with spice-laden aromas, can all be just as pleasing to you and your loved ones – especially if you stay more relaxed and energized.

Find more tips for handling holiday stress in the Holiday Survival Guide at About.com.

Enjoying relaxation & camaraderie with C-R-N

Connect-Relate-Network can also help us handle holiday stress. Our members include businesses that sell: wonderful gift items, ways to help with getting your holiday cards list handled, extra pairs of hands and feet for errand running, other services that could make your Christmas brighter – and easier. Treat yourself for less stress: we have members who are massage therapists. (Not to mention, they probably sell gift certificates for their services!) If you feel truly overwhelmed, you might turn to our members who are life coaches and therapists for help.

I haven’t even begun to detail the options you’ll find at Connect-Relate-Network for helping you through the holidays. Find out more at our next meeting, Monday, November 21, 1:00-2:15 pm at Stella’s in Poulsbo. See Scheduled Meetings for more information.

If you have tips, products or services to help us through the holidays, share them here in the comments. Also, come to Stella’s on the 21^st to tell us in person. Bring lots of business cards, brochures, or samples.

posted by Elena M. Rodriguez, Pacific Press International