A time of joy, peace and love—that is what the Christmas season is supposed to be, however, the holiday season instead often becomes a very stressful time of year.  Have you been caught up in the gift buying frenzy and dilemma of just what to get those individuals on your Christmas list? Often the desire to purchase these “just right” gifts for special persons exceeds what an individual’s pocket book dictates.  The result of wishes verses reality money to spend on gifts can lead to frustration.  

Stress can aggravate allergies.   Psychological stress suppresses the immune system, which may result in increased frequency and length of colds, allergies, flu and asthma.  Fatigue, unrealistic expectations, financial limits, and being unable to be with family members often are the cause for feelings of depression, anxiety, and anger.  

How does an individual cope with holiday stress?  Unrealistic expectations are the main cause of stress during the holidays.  Remember, no one is perfect so chances are your house, gifts, and food will not be picture perfect.  Be flexible so you can handle the unexpected when everything does not go as planned. 

A priceless gift is one from the heart.  The worth of a gift does not come from its price tag.  It is the sincerity in gift selection and preparation that counts.  The gifts that mean the most are those that reflect the personality of the giver and the receiver.  A meaningful gift may be something you make with your special skills or something you purchase to meet the needs or interests of the receiver.  The worth of a gift comes from truly making a person happy by a simple gesture or token.   Joy in giving comes when we see the delight in the face of the person as a specially selected gift is opened.  The happy smile, sparkle in one’s eyes has nothing to do with the cost of the gift.  Rather it is the sensitivity, time and caring in making the special selection.  Do set a limit for spending on gifts and stick to your limit.  Encourage members of your family to look for ways to make the best use of money available for gifts.

Take control of your personal situation.  Avoid situations that overly stress or upset you.  If the word ‘No’ is not in your vocabulary—learn to include it if you are susceptible to saying ‘Yes’ to every request for your time.  Set your limits and stick to them. 

Give yourself permission to feel depressed, angry, sad or lonely.  Try coping with these feelings by talking to friends, family, a counselor, exercising, or writing in a journal.  If you are far from loved ones, plan to be with friends or volunteer in your community to help those less fortunate than yourself.  Have fun and expose yourself to some humor.

The key ingredients to keeping healthy and managing stress during the holidays include a realistic approach to the holidays, a positive attitude, time and financial management, relaxation, laughter, exercise and good nutrition. 

Thought:  When you stop believing in Santa Claus, you get underwear for Christmas.