Do Winter Holidays Affect our Stress Level?It's winter and everyone has probably enjoyed some wonderful time on Christmas and New Year. Snow, bells, Christmas carols, the Christmas three... but you, dear readers, were you happy? Did you felt the joy as others did? For many people, the holiday seasons can be extremely stressful, even for those who sustain they don't have stress problems. There are a series of things that can lead to anxiety and depression during the winter holidays: from hosting a Christmas dinner party and not being able to handle the preparations to taking extra care of kids over the winter holiday. Those situations might seem like common things in our lives, but they often generate a lot of stress that accumulates in our body. Christmas might be a stressful time for people experiencing different stress levels; once it is gone, his effects will immediately appear: exhaustion, a numbness state just before the New Year, lack of excitement of spending yet another holiday with all your friends and family. Let's say you feel you are there just for their sake, but not yours. * Being lonely during the winter holiday accentuates the depression. * People put their happy faces but deep inside, they feel lonely and this is why memories can become during Christmas a real source of stress. * Problems that you never managed to solve during the year seem more pressing in this time of the year, and the sensation of leaving it unsolved causes stress. Hopefully, you have enough resources left to relieve some of the stress that winter holidays often produce and next year you will spend quality time with the ones you love:
1. Try to keep away from anything that causes you sadness during the winter holidays. Meeting family members or persons that remind you of painful times in your life will only bring you stress.
2. It is said that Christmas time is a time of forgiveness, and you should follow your heart. Recognizing and accepting the sources of your stress will help you get over the difficult moments in your life.
3. Be realistic regarding your inner feelings! Realizing that is perfectly normal to have melancholic feelings during a period of joy and holiday. Only if those feelings aggravate, you can ask for support and advice to people around you: family, friends, and community.
4. Avoid making New Year resolutions if you experience stress in your life! One of the most common causes of stress after Christmas is realizing that you were not able to accomplish any of those resolutions. Just remember to make resolutions that are achievable on a short term and enjoy the results.
5. Try to relax! Listen to Christmas carols, walk and play in the snow. It is never too late for some good old fun in the snow. Make gifts to the ones you love and do things that make you happy; this will help you feel fulfilled. Now go on and do some soul searching! If you manage to offer yourself at least a drop of happiness after the winter holidays, you will welcome this New Year with a brand new attitude, stress-free!
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