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<\/a>With the holidays upon us comes extra stress with work plus parties, buying, hosting, travel, and company among the non-usual activities.\u00a0 Even if you can manage to sleep in heavenly peace, eat sensibly, breathe deeply, and practice gratitude, there are still so many demands on us that the stress continues to build.\u00a0 Here are ten tips to help you cope.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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- Don\u2019t over-do.<\/strong> It easy to eat and drink too much.\u00a0 Food and drink will not really help you escape stress or sadness.\u00a0 In fact, they will only build to stress and unhealthy weight gain.<\/li>\n
- Allow your feelings.<\/strong> There may be times when you don\u2019t feel particularly festive.\u00a0 If you feel a bit of the bah humbug overtaking you, don\u2019t fight it.\u00a0 Work through your feelings and let it be ok for you or others to feel sad or lonely.<\/li>\n
- Seek out an old friend.<\/strong> Get in touch with someone you haven\u2019t heard from in a while, or reach out to make a new friend.\u00a0 Seek out supportive caring people.<\/li>\n
- Help someone else out.<\/strong> There are lots of people who have less and need more than you.\u00a0 Why not share some of your blessings with them?<\/li>\n
- Be realistic.<\/strong> Can you really shop for and feed a small army, travel, decorate, and all with everything else you have to do?\u00a0 Keep your to-do list reasonable and do the most important things first.\u00a0 And say \u201cNo\u201d if you must.<\/li>\n
- Think of the time as a \u201cSeason\u201d of celebration, not just a day.<\/strong> It isn\u2019t just one day so why not spread out your activities to reduce the stress.<\/li>\n
- Plan fun activities that cost nothing.<\/strong> Especially in this time of economic stress, but anytime seek out activities that don\u2019t cost a dime.\u00a0 Attend a school play, go window-shopping, or walk around taking in the holiday decorations.<\/li>\n
- Do something different.<\/strong> So often we tend to do the same things year after year.\u00a0 Create a tradition of doing something different either by yourself or with your friends and family.<\/li>\n
- Embrace the present.<\/strong> Don\u2019t over-romanticize the good ole days.\u00a0 The past whether or not it was good or bad is a memory.\u00a0 Savor the changes and differences that make the \u2018now\u2019 uniquely special.<\/li>\n
- Honor yourself.<\/strong> In order to be strong and loving for others, you must first stay strong and loving for yourself.\u00a0 Reserve time to care for and take care of yourself.\u00a0 Let others carry the load; you may find they would love to and it helps them grow.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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- Allow your feelings.<\/strong> There may be times when you don\u2019t feel particularly festive.\u00a0 If you feel a bit of the bah humbug overtaking you, don\u2019t fight it.\u00a0 Work through your feelings and let it be ok for you or others to feel sad or lonely.<\/li>\n