Its supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. But for many Americans the holiday season brings considerable stress, anxiety and even depression. What should be an opportunity to slow down, take a vacation, focus on family and friends, often turns into an annually reoccurring hassle that is more of a burden than a relief.
Its no wonder that so many people have a sense of dread rather than excitement about the holidays and find themselves completely frazzled by the time its over, says Elisabeth Scott, a stress management expert at about.com. According to a poll she conducted, 80 percent of respondents said they were more stressed during the holidays than they would like to be.
All of the baking and entertaining, shopping, wrapping, relatives we dont often see (sometimes for good reason), and holiday cards can add up to a schedule packed with extra activity and responsibility. Pair that with high expectations that most of us carry for the season, as well as the debt that often lasts for months afterwards, and you have a recipe for stress, says Scott.
Stress is also one of the reasons why so many people get sick around the holidays. Its not just flu season that catches up with you, its also that the heightened stress weakens your immune system and makes you more vulnerable to viruses and bacteria. Studies have shown that when test participants were subjected to elevated stress levels, their bodies almost stopped producing infection-fighting antibodies and their natural defenses went down.
Stress can make you more susceptible to illnesses from colds and flu to chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, according to WebMD. Studies found that chronic stress can age the immune system and potentially increase the risk of any number of serious health conditions, including cancer.
It doesnt have to be this way. This year can be different, says Scott. Try a combination of cutting back on activities, taking shortcuts, and adjusting your own expectations for the season. You can enjoy the holidays to the fullest without maxing out your energy, schedule and credit cards.
Most importantly, you need to take care of your health, if you want to make it through the holidays in one piece. That starts with sound eating habits, regular exercise and getting enough rest.
Stress increases your need for nutrients because stress makes it more difficult for the body to digest properly, says Cindy Heroux, a registered dietitian and author of The Manual That Should Have Come With Your Body (Speaking of Wellness, 2003). The more malnourished you become, the more severely stress will impact both your body and your mind, she warns.
To prevent that from happening, health experts recommend eating plenty of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables to keep so-called free radicals at bay. Free radicals are reactive biological compounds that can damage DNA and suppress the immune system and are associated with many diseases. It is believed that stress plays a significant role in the increasing presence of these compounds.
Exercise, of course, is a great way to find relief from stress. Exercise can decrease stress hormones like cortisol and increase endorphins, your bodys feel-good chemicals, giving your mood a natural boost. [It] can take your mind off your problems and either redirect it on the activity at hand or get you into a zen-like state, says Scott.
In addition to following a balanced diet and exercise regimen, you also must set time aside for rest and relaxation. If necessary, you have to say no and cut back on preparations or activities if they overwhelm you. A fat loss overview can help you produce a clear summarize of what you need to focus on to complete your fat loss purpose if you're a starter; or serve as a reminder for those who are at an intermediate or more advance level of their weightloss plan. Promptly after are seven steps that can serve as instructions for your special weight loss program. The first thing that one must understand is that losing weight and losing fat is not a similar thing. Many weight loss applications have tricked people into thinking that it is the same, but most diets and weight loss plans only work by leading to a person's body to eliminate more muscle cells and water than actual body fat, more help please visit The Fat Loss Factor. You dont need to try every activity offered, go to every party thrown, or do everything the Martha Stewart way in order to make your holiday special, says Scott. Dont become so busy that you no longer enjoy what is supposed to be fun and give you pleasure. Stick to whats important to you, the things you would really miss if they werent included, and dont measure yourself by other peoples expectations. After all, it should be a wonderful time for you, too.
Timi Gustafson R.D. is a registered dietitian, newspaper columnist, blogger and author of the book The Healthy Diner How to Eat Right and Still Have Fun, which is available on her blog, Food and Health with Timi Gustafson R.D., and at amazon.com. You can follow Timi on Twitter and on Facebook.
When Should You Let Your Tween Wear Make Up? : Parenting
www.justmommies.com/.../when-should-you-let-your-tween-wear-make-upSetting appropriate guidelines for tweens to wear makeup. ... Just yesterday your little girl was running around in diapers. As they grew older they would watch you ...
The CalorieKing Blog - By Allan Borushek
blog.calorieking.comCounting calories this Independence Day? Come on! Its the 4th of July. Time to let loose, slosh back another beer, and buff up with beefy burgers, right?
Daily Kos: Don't Let Them Pull Out Your Teeth
www.dailykos.com/.../01/31/1181512/-Don-t-Let-Them-Pull-Out-Your-TeethUPDATE: You have my full permission to reprint, distribute, or in any way copy and reuse this post in its entirety. In fact, I strongly encourage you to do so.
CDC - Family Health - Holiday Health and Safety Tips
www.cdc.gov/family/holidayDec 13, 2012 Family health information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Turkey Recipe by the BBQ Pit Boys - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vatt2vFaK88Turkey for Thanksgiving or for any holiday feast is good eating, especially when cooked on the grill, or roasted low and slow on the smoker. Make your ...
LONG List of random Holidays THAT DONT MATTER ...
www.kidpub.com/story/long-list-random-holidays-dont-matter-811113705dies MAAAAAAGGIE! YOU FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT HOLIDAY OF ALL! Today is... takes deep breath NATIONAL PIEROGIE DAY! dances around room like
Holidays & Celebrations - How To Information eHow
www.ehow.com/holidaysTake your career to new heights. Our expert advice will help you land a job, navigate complicated work situations, get a raise or promotion or jumpstart a new career.
Kids Behavior - How To Information Page 1 eHow
www.ehow.com Parenting ChildrenDon't just sit there scratching your head, find useful info on Kids Behavior on eHow. Get essential tips and learn more about everything from Negative Effects of ...
Tips on Saving Money & Finding Deals Online Our Blog Save.com
www.save.com/blogWere constantly on the lookout for clever money-saving strategies & tips for savvy consumers youll love our fave shopping deals & freebie alerts!
Pandora Internet Radio - Listen to Free Music You'll Love
www.pandora.comPandora is free, personalized radio that plays music you'll love. Discover new music and enjoy old favorites. Start with your favorite artist, song or composer and ...
Ran Prieur
www.ranprieur.comRan Prieur "The bigger you build the bonfire, the more darkness is revealed." - Terence McKenna
RealAge is now part of Sharecare Health Tips & Assessments ...
www.sharecare.com/static/realage-sharecareRealAge is now part of Sharecare. Take the RealAge test & Health Assessments. Get health information on conditions such as cancer, diabetes & asthma
Free Resources - WELCOA, Wellness Council Of America
www.welcoa.org/freeresources/index.php?category=8Contained in the Free Reports section, you'll find key reports, studies, and other publications designed to help you understand some of the key issues involved in ...
Business The Poughkeepsie Journal poughkeepsiejournal.com
www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/section/businessPoughkeepsie New York News - poughkeepsiejournal.com is the home page of Poughkeepsie New York with in depth and updated Poughkeepsie local news. Stay
SHTF Plan - When the Shit Hits The Fan, Don't Say We Didn't Warn You.
www.shtfplan.comEconomic news, survival and recession proofing your life.
The 10 Best Ways to Help Your 4th-Grader Succeed in School
www.scholastic.com/schoolage/grade4/homework/10bestways.htm1. Encourage reading in any way you can 2. Treat your child as though he's an author 3. Make math part of her everyday life 4. Teach your child how to listen
Photo Galleries ZDNet - ZDNet Technology News, Analysis ...
www.zdnet.com/photoView photo galleries of hardware, gadgets, products from Apple, Microsoft and more that are important to the tech industry.
FML: Your everyday life stories
www.fmylife.comFMyLife: Share your every day life unfortunate moments and other fail funny stories
Death takes no holiday: Tracking gun violence over one long ...
investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/10/16912259-death-takes...It was after midnight, early on a Saturday in the college town of Moscow, Idaho, and student Jason
Comforting Words - When You Don't Know What To Say
wordsfordifficulttimes.blogspot.comComforting Words - When You Don't Know What To Say This is the blog of Robbie Miller Kaplan, author of "How to Say It When You Don't Know What to Say."
Lyz Lenz
www.lyzlenz.comEschewing pants, eating chicken nuggets and getting knocked up.
Various Artists Lyrics - Song Lyrics - MetroLyrics
www.metrolyrics.com/various-artists-lyrics.htmlView Various Artists song lyrics by popularity along with songs featured in, albums, videos and song meanings. We have 47 albums and 2556 lyrics in our database for ...
Holidays
www.bhg.com/holidaysCelebrate the holidays with Better Homes and Gardens! Starting with New Year's parties and appetizers, pretty Valentine's Day cards, Easter egg decorating ideas, and ...
Latest blog posts - Spokane7 - Spokane7: The Spokane and Coeur
www.spokane7.com/blogSpokane7 entertainment blog, covering movies, dining and things to do in Spokane and North Idaho.