stress management
Practical Tips for Surviving the Holidays
December 10, 2011 | 
Author 
Here we are, just 2 weeks away from Christmas Day. You are in good company if you find yourself surrounded by friends, food and fun. But, you may also find yourself run ragged, tired, stressed out and feeling out of control. Sound familiar? As we approach “the happiest time of the year”, it can be easy to get off track and fall away from the 80/20 rule, in food and in life! So, to keep yourself balanced here are some practical tips:
- Set boundaries. If you have to attend several functions (social or otherwise), plan to eat well before you go so that you don’t arrive hungry. And, decide which occasions are worth the treat, and which should be avoided.
- Remember that calories from alcohol can add up quickly, and that people tend to make poorer food choices after having a drink or two.
- Stick to the “real foods”. You’ll fare better by sticking to fruit and cheese, and staying away from other hors d’oeuvres that may be fried of cooked with a lot of fat, etc.
- If you’ve been invited to a party or gathering, offer to bring a healthy dish. At least you’ll be sure of one healthy option!
- To manage stress levels, avoid the temptation to load up on caffeine and sugar. The quick rise in blood sugar, and subsequent crash, can make things worse. Many people experience anxiety during the crash, which won’t help you feel more in control.
- Get 8 hours of sleep. Don’t skimp on sleep at this time of year. If you aren’t sleeping well, talk to us about options such as melatonin, inositol, or other herbs.
- B vitamins are especially important at this time of year, as they are used up quickly under stressful conditions. A B-Complex, along with a good multivitamin may be a good idea.
- Herbs such as licorice, eleuthrococcus and ashwaganda are known as adaptogenic herbs. Adaptogens are useful in times of stress, and may be helpful if you are having symptoms such as excessive fatigue, disordered sleep patterns, weight changes and/or difficulty coping with day-to-day stressors. Talk to us if you feel you may need adaptogenic support.
And, finally, remember that the holidays are meant to be a time of celebration and gathering. We wish you you and family peace and joy, and the best of health in 2012.
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Reiki for Stress Management
In addition to dramatically helping with specific physical problems and illnesses, Reiki also heals on an emotional level to ensure that any physical problems caused by stress and emotional trauma do not return. Reiki also helps your body to function at optimum levels, reducing the risk of developing illnesses.
Reiki enables you to be more of a detached outsider looking in on your life with a ‘fresh’, objective perspective rather than being trapped inside your life with no way out. It can help you to feel at peace with yourself, be kind to yourself and do what is ‘right’ for you rather than setting unachievable goals for yourself and having unrealistic expectations.
Reiki can help you gain focus and clarity, as well as helping you to trust your intuition. This is not to say that after a Reiki Treatment, you will never feel stressed again, because life always presents us with difficult situations, but you will be able to handle them in a much healthier way. This will create within you a higher, more universal outlook that will make life much more manageable giving you a greater sense of direction and understanding of why you are here along with an inner peace and a real sense of happiness.
The Gift of Self-Compassion
Me? I am almost finished my holiday shopping…we have so many family coming home for Christmas this year for our big dinner…we have the best New Years tickets.
I have to be careful not to let these kinds of comments give me little pangs of insecurity and stress. I have had to talk back quite assertively to the negative self-chatter such as, wow you are going to be stuck in the mall in massive line-ups, again..what’s wrong with you…do you never learn to start early and avoid the panic? This year I have decided to really give myself a break of a mental and emotional nature. I am giving the priceless gift of self-compassion and it is only fair that I share this gift with others.
“Self-compassion is a form of acceptance. Whereas acceptance usually refers to what’s happening to us – accepting a feeling or a thought – self-compassion is acceptance of the person to whom it’s happening. It’s acceptance of ourselves while we’re in pain. Self-compassion practice is a special method for whittling away our stubborn tendencies to resist pain and grasp for pleasure.”
Excerpt from The mindful path to self-compassion: Freeing yourself from destructive thoughts and emotions
By Dr. Christopher K. Germer, New York: The Guilford Press 2009,
In a quiet moment, picture opening a beautifully wrapped gift. Inside the box is the happy glow of self-compassion. As you slowly open this gift feel the soothing relief of accepting how you are in the moment, not as you expect or should be. The lightness of this gift bathes you with acceptance of your imperfection and humanity. This would mean that you are now allowed to truly believe that your holiday efforts to make others happy are good enough. Allow yourself to breath in the fact that even though the holidays may bring up painful times or stress, that you are not alone in this experience. No one has a perfect holiday. No one has a perfect life. Everyone suffers on some level. Allow yourself to acknowledge your struggles and celebrate your efforts. Remind yourself that you are loved and loving.
Very often we push ourselves to do better than our best for others over the holidays and in the months leading up to the holidays we put pressure on ourselves to try to cover the added expenses. Let self-compassion guide you to simplify and appreciate the meaningful contact we have with others that transcends the materialistic side of the holidays.
Seek a balanced approach to the holidays by ensuring that time for fresh air, exercise, and nutritious food is intermingled with enjoyable, safe excess. Remember to take care of yourself and tend to your need for relaxation so you can truly be present with loved ones and even people you kind of like over the holidays.