topic Re: Holiday stress in Community Chat

Holiday stress

151949 — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:39:26 GMT

Reading this board the past few days I am struck by the amount of stress the holidays puts on us all.Who to get what as gifts, who to tip what - hurt feelings - having to attend or throw parties we really don't want to give or go to. If it's not one thing it's another . Holiday meals, baking cookies, decorating. And the money spent on all of it. One huge stress after another. At the food bank we are trying to get together the makings for 200 holiday ham dinners plus collect donated toys for our clients kids. Stress stress stress. I am ready to go hibernate in the woods somewhere. Those bears have the right idea.

Re: Holiday stress

YorkieonmyPillow — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:41:09 GMT

I haven't had any holiday-related stress - perhaps you need to cut down on your activities or perhaps your expectations are too high.

Re: Holiday stress

hopi — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:43:54 GMT

You put stress on yourself. You don't have to do anything if you don't want to. Go hibernate for a couple of weeks and come back out for dinner.

Re: Holiday stress

bri20 — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:46:07 GMT

I refuse to have holiday stress. If it's stressful, I don't do it or worry about it. The holidays come every year. I can figure out how to manage things just fine.

Re: Holiday stress

cherry — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:47:16 GMT

I keep it simple.

Re: Holiday stress

Allegheny — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:49:00 GMT

People create their own stress.

Re: Holiday stress

151949 — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:50:58 GMT

I spent the best part of the afternoon today just making bows. A whole afternoon! I guess I'm getting slow.

Re: Holiday stress

Noel7 — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:50:58 GMT

@151949

You are right, there is a lot of holiday stress for many people and studies have shown that. Especially for families with kids who are involved in activities at this time, and parents have all that shopping and taking them places.

Not to mention the stress many people have from dealing with family.

Re: Holiday stress

beckyb1012 — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:51:25 GMT

None here I always have an updated listed in word format in my purse with a game plan and goals for each day leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas. For about 6 weeks each day there as to be something accomplished errand or chore (holiday related preferably) each morning before work and each day after work. But at least one per day.

Next week-end will be just one last store to shop at which is too far out for other than a Sat. Then the week-end of the 15th is cooking and freezing for family functions, parties and co-workers. Finally that just leaves the eating!!

Seriously I make daily goals and check my list often. Peace of mind for me.

Re: Holiday stress

Lucky Charm — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:52:51 GMT

The only stress I ever knew during the holidays (or ever)was from my MIL. Haven't had to deal with that for years now.

I enjoy the hustle and bustle. I'm done Christmas shopping, but will still go out up until Christmas Eve, just to be a *part of it*. I love it!

I love the parties and maybe I'll throw one this year, I haven't in a while. But when family is here staying, just like they did for Thanksgiving, it's pretty much a party anyways.

Re: Holiday stress

maestra — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:53:45 GMT

To OP, when you feel stressed use visualization of how happy the families and children will be opening and enjoying what you are spending your time making for them. hth.

Re: Holiday stress

SahmIam — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:54:29 GMT

No stress on my end. I love the holidays!!!!

Re: Holiday stress

Noel7 — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:54:35 GMT

Stress comes from many things. It's not just what we put on ourselves, it can be stress from dealing with others and their demands. You can't always say no when it's the needs of your children.

Then again, there's the stress of being sick, I'm dealing with a winter virus right now.

For most or many people, stress shows up in your body and you may not even realize what it is.

Re: Holiday stress

Katcat1 — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:57:58 GMT

I personally have not experienced any stress. When I was younger I enjoyed baking different cookies and sometimes gave them away as gifts. The holidays for me are festive and it's fun to decorate your home. You may be doing too many things at once and need to step back. Only you can put stress on yourself. Relax and enjoy yourself.

Re: Holiday stress

151949 — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:59:22 GMT

@Noel7 wrote:
Stress comes from many things. It's not just what we put on ourselves, it can be stress from dealing with others and their demands. You can't always say no when it's the needs of your children.

Then again, there's the stress of being sick, I'm dealing with a winter virus right now.

For most or many people, stress shows up in your body and you may not even realize what it is.

You are so right. I did the entire Thanksgiving thing and the next day I was exhausted and every arthritic bone in my body hurt like crazy.

Re: Holiday stress

gidgetgh — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:59:34 GMT

OP, I'm sorry there's so much going on that it's stressing you. It can get that way quickly.

I'm doing ok so far. Cards are ready to mail. Ordered the last two gifts from Amazon this morning (and waiting for others to still arrive from Amazon).

The gifts I have are wrapped.

This will sound ridiculous, but I "work" hard to not take on too much because if I do, I start feeling overwhelmed and that makes me not feel well. Yesterday morning I called and rescheduled a crown that I was supposed to have done today. It just felt like too much to me, with everything else I'm doing this week. Rescheduled it for next week, which is a lighter week.

I will say this. We always put up our tree two weeks before Christmas so that time isn't even here yet, but I just don't know that I have it in me to do it this year. It's been a rough year and pulling that out and doing all that seems a little overwhelming to me. So, if it doesn't get out up, it just doesn't. This would be only the second time ever I didn't put a tree up.

Anyway, I'm rambling. OP, I hope things ease up for you.

Re: Holiday stress

deepwaterdotter — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 21:00:31 GMT

I find my time cooking and serving at my church's community meal to be stress-free. It is very rewarding to see and hear how appreciative the diners are for nutritious food and uplifting company. Driving in holiday traffic is probably as stressful as it gets in my life this time of the year.

Re: Holiday stress

Noel7 — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 21:00:47 GMT

For anyone interested:

Stress, depression and the holidays: Tips for coping

From the Mayo Clinic:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20047544

Re: Holiday stress

qualitygal — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 21:01:33 GMT

There's a quote about how you choose to react to things. It's the things I tell myself about any situation, and what I can/can't control. I think it's better to just go with the flow, and not stress. Things just seem to work out w/o all the yelling and screaming, and we can either stress out and try and work it all out, or let it run it's course. You just adjust to the situation, and believe it or not, it works out. That's what my life has taught me. You learn to cope with what is, and do what you can, the rest just manages to get taken care of. It's amazing, but it does seem to work out that way, when all is said and done no matter how much worry, sleeplessness, etc., I'd put myself through. It's amazing. And I pray.

Re: Holiday stress

qualitygal — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 21:06:49 GMT

@Lucky Charm wrote:
The only stress I ever knew during the holidays (or ever)was from my MIL. Haven't had to deal with that for years now.

I enjoy the hustle and bustle. I'm done Christmas shopping, but will still go out up until Christmas Eve, just to be a *part of it*. I love it!

I love the parties and maybe I'll throw one this year, I haven't in a while. But when family is here staying, just like they did for Thanksgiving, it's pretty much a party anyways.

@Lucky Charm, love your attitude and that your family staying with you is a party. You're building memories, that someday you'll call upon in a fond way. Good for you!!!