SAN DIEGO, Dec. 15, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With a looming recession, an increase in job losses, and a tightening credit crunch, extra stress can come all too easily to consumers this holiday season. And sometimes, this added stress can lead to anxiety, overeating, weight gain, and depression.
"For most consumers, the holidays have become a ritual of high demands and high stress that can take the fun out of the season and take a toll on our health," says Elizabeth Thompson, MPH, RD, and senior clinical director for Healthyroads, Inc., the wellness subsidiary of national health improvement organization American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH). "Stress can rob of us our ability to relax, to sleep, and to feel organized and in control. Long-term stress can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and depression. But through simple planning, we can reduce our stress triggers and have a more joyful and relaxing holiday season," she continues.
Healthyroads offers the following tips to keep stress at bay this season:
1. Organize early. If you haven't already made your holiday plans and
scheduled your shopping, wrapping, and decorating days, sit down
today with your calendar and schedule the important things. Then
make a "to-do" list with due dates. Through careful planning,
you'll avoid all those last minute hassles that tend to frazzle us
this time of year.
2. Set your own limits. It's sometimes hard to forget that we don't
have to outdo the guy next door who just put up 2,000 holiday
lights or give gifts to everyone at the office. Figure out what
is most important for you, then shrug off those fears of what
everyone else may expect. Your stress and anxiety impact those
around you, so being relaxed and enjoying the company of others
may be the best gift you can give to your friends and loved ones.
3. Set a realistic budget if giving gifts. Almost everyone is worried
about money this year, so it's important to set a realistic budget
and stick to it. Put away those credit cards and only buy what you
can afford. Some of the most memorable and most appreciated gifts
often turn out to be the simplest and least expensive: homemade
breads or jams; handmade bracelets or art pieces; personalized
scrapbooks for your kids that include their old report cards,
artwork, poetry, and scouting badges; or simple framing of
cherished old family photos. Other inexpensive gifts that will
last include calendars, books, a diary or journal, magazine
subscriptions, or DVDs. For those people you don't get to see
often enough, give the gift of time -- arrange a girls' or guys'
day out, or a kids' day to share a picnic. Go ice skating, do some
baking, or set up a regular "date" with your spouse to take dance
lessons.
4. Stay safe. Avoid a visit to the emergency room by taking extra
care when you climb ladders for decorating, when you are cooking,
and when you are traveling to distant areas. Emergency rooms often
see a spike in admissions during the holidays due to accidents and
stress- and depression-related conditions such as high blood
pressure and heart attacks.
5. Avoid situations that trigger depression. Holidays can be a
letdown for those who feel alone, as well as for those who have
stressful family reunions. Think back to previous holidays and
what situations triggered depression or anxiety, then change the
scenario this year. If loneliness plagues you during the holidays,
then spend a few days with an old friend, volunteer time at a food
bank, or join an organization of carolers or a group that reads to
local children. You'll feel better about giving back and will
receive the gift of a lasting memory. If family members are the
source of your negative feelings, then skip the family event this
year, or challenge family members to a different kind of
celebration that embraces all that you love about each other.
6. Eat healthier, and set a weight goal if you feel that you need to.
One of the biggest complaints about the holidays is weight gain.
If you want to avoid gaining weight, set a weight goal for
yourself. Weigh yourself early in the holiday season and several
times a week during the holidays. To reduce weight gain, drink
lots of water, try to stay on your regular exercise schedule, and
avoid the most fattening foods such as gravies, butter- and
sugar-laden desserts, and alcoholic beverages.
7. Pamper yourself. The holidays are about connecting with family,
friends, and yourself. If you start feeling stressed, incorporate
some relaxation or yoga into your schedule, take time to read
affirmations or a good book, take a 15-minute nap or a walk in the
afternoon, or put on a pot of hot mulling spices to give your home
the warm, cheery aroma of the holidays. These simple ideas can be
a quick fix to alter a cranky mood, or help you relax after a
hectic day.
"Take charge of your holidays, and they won't take charge of you," says Thompson. "With some simple planning, you'll feel more in control and enjoy your holidays more fully."
About American Specialty Health
American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) provides specialty benefit programs, fitness programs, health coaching and incentives, Internet solutions, and worksite wellness programs to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups, and trust funds nationwide.
Based in San Diego, ASH has over 600 employees and covers more than 13.4 million members in specialty benefit, fitness, and coaching programs. For more information, visit ASH online at ASHCompanies.com or call 800.848.3555.