Health Coach Reveals Tips For Stress Free Holidays – Brian’s Blog

Here in Yakima, the holidays are just like they are anyplace else. Hustle, bustle and heightened expectations. How can you cope with the stress and still have a great time?

Dealing with more people on the road, last-minute gift shopping with what seems like millions of people, juggling holiday parties, traveling, dealing with long lines at the airport, seeing family members we haven’t seen in forever. The list goes on and on. For as many reasons as we have to stress out, there is a huge number of health problems we face if we succumb to that pressure, including headaches, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, even heart attacks and strokes. What’s more, stress can wreak havoc on our waistline as well.

"When a person feels ‘stressed,’ the fight-or-flight response kicks in,” says Justine SanFilippo, a certified health coach and nutritionist. "This response came from when we had to hunt and gather our food. So, if we were running from a tiger, we would survive. This means that the body releases adrenaline and cortisol. If a person is constantly stressed, then there is constantly extra cortisol, which can lead to belly fat."

SanFilippo has seven tips to release some of that stress and really enjoy the holidays.

• Plan Ahead – Nobody likes doing things last-minute, which causes unnecessary stress. Start planning now so you don’t have to do so much later.

 

• Ask for Help – Delegating is a great stress-reducer. Ask your friends or family members to help you with some tasks. You don’t have to be Super Mom or Super Dad, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how eager they are to help.

 

• Shop During the Week – Most people will shop on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, so aim to get your shopping done during the week.

 

• Exercise – We all know that exercise can help reduce stress, but if you’re in a tense situation or a family member is driving you crazy, exercise is probably the last thing on your mind. Be sure to get in your daily exercise, especially if you’ll be in a normally stressful situation later. Those endorphins will help!

 

• Stick to a Budget – The holidays are no reason to break the bank. Stick to a budget or even plan a “Secret Santa” in which everyone draws a name and just gets one gift. The holidays aren’t about who gets what – it’s about being grateful and spending quality time with the people you care most about.

 

• Learn to Say No – It’s OK if you can’t attend every function or party you are invited to. If they are truly your friends, they will understand. Putting yourself and your needs first will reduce stress.

 

• Remember the Reason for the Season – The purpose of the holiday season is to have fun, relax, and spend time with family and friends – not stress out.