IT’S BEEN CALLED “THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR,” BUT FOR MANY OF US, THE WEEKS BETWEEN HALLOWEEN AND JANUARY 1ST ARE ANYTHING BUT. With less sunlight and more demands on our time, energy and financial resources, self-care goes by the wayside. Add to that unrealistic expectations and less-than-optimal family dynamics, and it’s no wonder 38 percent of Americans report feeling more tense and anxious in the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Not to worry: We’ve rounded up expert tips to help you navigate the season's biggest stresses with your health and happiness intact.
SO…YOUR TO-DO LIST IS A MILE LONG.
HOW TO DEAL:
GET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT “We often put items on our to-do lists without prioritizing,” says Debra Kissen, Ph.D., executive director of the Light on Anxiety CBT Treatment Center in Chicago. But giving equal weight to tasks and obligations—for example, “buy wrapping paper” and “visit aunt in a nursing home”—can be anxiety-provoking. Review your to-dos, then list them in order of importance and urgency.
DIAL IT DOWN Let go of the idea of having a Hallmark-perfect holiday and see if you can scale back even slightly—say, snail-mailing holiday cards only to relatives you're close to and sending e-greetings for everyone else. No one will notice if you serve store-bought latkes, or if a section of the tree is missing lights. “Keep your expectations at a reasonable level and try to enjoy the spirit of the holidays,” says Patricia Farrell, Ph.D., a psychologist in Tenafly, NJ.
This story is from the November - December 2019 edition of Pilates Style.
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This story is from the November - December 2019 edition of Pilates Style.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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