Balancing family and work responsibilities is a big challenge. Add the holidays into the mix and you have a recipe for some major stress if not managed properly.
Jeffrey Kuentzel, Wayne State University’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) director and clinical associate professor in the psychology department, offers holiday stress-management tips:
- Recognize your stress — Signs include feeling overwhelmed, irritability, insomnia, anxiety, headaches, sweating, indigestion, muscle tension and jitteriness.
- Don’t stress about being stressed — It’s normal, so don’t make it worse by beating yourself up about it.
- Learn the skill of relaxation — A lot of easy breathing exercises can be found on the Internet.
- Be realistic — When you begin to feel tense and overwhelmed, pause and try to look at your situation from a fresh perspective. Ask yourself, “If this task doesn't get done, what's the worst thing that can happen?”
- Practice gratitude — See if you can be more mindful of the things in your life that you are grateful for, or remember that there are many who are less fortunate. In fact, volunteering to help the less fortunate is an excellent way to improve how you feel and make the world a better place.
- Use time-management methods — Use to-do lists and prioritize. "What is the best use of my time right now? What needs to get done now?"
- Exercise — Just taking a short walk can be a quick and effective mental health vacation.
- Sleep — Being sleep-deprived is stressful. Getting more sleep can help your mind refocus, recharge and rebalance.
- Don’t neglect your eating — Not fueling your body appropriately will lead to less energy and poorer coping in the face of stress. Eat something balanced and healthy, such as fruits and veggies, whole grains and protein.
- Avoid alcoholic substances and drugs — Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs is not a healthy way to manage stress.
Kuentzel adds that seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but rather shows courage and wisdom. “It’s the wise thing to do,” he says.