The holiday trifecta is approaching – stress, debt and a monster hangover on Jan 2. For anyone over the age of 10, Christmas is less about jingle bells and (fake) snow than the pressure associated with festivities and family time. Along with the parties come financial stress, emotional problems and general fatigue from having too much on your plate and too much to drink.
Doctor Leung Chi Hung, assistant professor of psychology at Hong Kong Baptist University, says most people experience stress over the holidays because of unpredictable events. He gives us a few tips on how to handle the unexpected and what to do to stay stress-free.
Make a to-do list
There’ll be a million things to do before Christmas dinner or before your flight to warmer climes. “Write down what’s going to happen over the Christmas holiday and what you’ll have to do,” Leung says. Once you see all the tasks at hand, plan your time accordingly and you’ll realize that it’s doable and that there’s no reason to panic. If there’s too much to do, delegate!
Write down your expenses
As much fun as gift giving can be, combined with Christmas dinners, New Year’s parties and holiday shopping, your bank account will be feeling the pain come 2008. “People need to write down their expenses and set a schedule for how much they’ll spend,” Leung says. In other words, set a budget and stick to it.
Plan, plan, plan
When you’re on holiday in another country, things can get frustrating especially if you don’t speak the language and don’t know where to go. “Plan your holiday and make a list of what you’ll do on day one, day two, etc. Write down all the places you want to go so you can keep track,” he says. As much fun as being spontaneous can be, if you want to keep stress levels low, know what you want to do before you get there and keep your documents organized and ready.
Let go of the reins
Leung says stress occurs because unpredictable events cause feelings of losing control. But as organized as you try to be, shit happens. Laugh it off, stay positive and know that things don’t have to be perfect for everyone to have a good time.
Don’t make a scene
So you’ve been at your family dinner for less than an hour and your mom has managed to criticize the way you wear your hair, the “disappointing” job you have and the fact you’re still single after all these years. Leung’s advice is to keep the confrontations at a minimum. “Don’t deal with the problem in the situation. If your mom criticizes you, talk to her after dinner.” In the meantime...
Breathe!
When you find yourself in a stressful situation, breathing exercises can help you relax, says Ella Chan, vice-president of the Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association. “Combining breathing exercises and muscle relaxation techniques can be a useful way to regroup and relax your mind,” she says. These techniques can slow down heart rate, lower blood pressure and reduce muscle tension, problems which are usually common outcomes of stress. Here’s how to do it:
Begin by taking deep breaths slowly, counting to five as you inhale and exhale. At the same time, relax each muscle in your body starting from your face down to your toes (face, neck, shoulders, hands, stomach, etc.) by slowly tensing for five seconds as you inhale and relaxing for five seconds as you exhale. By doing this, you become more aware of physical sensations.
You can also try the breathing technique while visualizing a peaceful place or situation.
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