Tips On Coping With Holiday Stress
By Russell Smith
Tips on Coping with Holiday Stress
The holiday season can be a time of joy, wonder, and personal renewal. Or it can leave you drained emotionally, physically even financially. How can you keep the jolly days for you and your family? Here are some common stress points and tips on dealing with them from the 124 year old national children's crisis charity KidsPeace:

Stress Points & Coping Tips

Over expectation: This is the single biggest cause of holiday stress. Unrealistic hopes that everything and everyone will suddenly be perfect (unless they are usually perfect) can only lead to disappointment, frustration and depression the exact opposite of what you and your family had hoped. Be realistic and enjoy the true meaning of the holidays, which is about celebration and togetherness not perfection.

Over scheduling: Most of our lives are already overscheduled, even before adding in visits from relatives, religious events, and travel. Do yourself and your family a favor: Make plans carefully in advance and do not be afraid to say no when you or your kids are overscheduled.

Overindulging: Eat, drink and be merry within reason. Overeating can worsen certain health problems and causes unneeded guilt over extra pounds. Enjoy the bounty of special celebrations but do not go overboard. Remember that alcohol is calorie heavy and is a natural depressant. Try the old trick of drinking a glass of water in between alcoholic drinks to limit your intake and stay hydrated.

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Overpaying: In a world of expensive electronics and holiday TV commercials bombarding our kids, it is easy for financial stresses to drain your enthusiasm and your wallet. Do not confuse stuff with love. Make a budget and stick to it. Most of all, remember to give the gift of time to children. Long after the $100 video games are forgotten, kids will remember sledding down hills with you.

Overexertion: Do not wait until the last minute to shop for food and presents. Shop ahead of time. Use the Internet. And do not go it alone! Make preparations and the events family occasions. Involve children in the planning, shopping and decorating. Getting the kids to help with meals can be memorable and fun.

Overbearing Relatives: It is almost a cliché, but family conflicts can resurface during what should be ideal moments. Try to avoid falling into old tensions or old roles. If certain people are problematic, be creative with seating or invite people to different occasions at different times. Set aside differences until after the holidays. If friction arises, leave the room to baste the turkey or take a walk with someone.

Overstressed Kids: Children are sensitive and can be the first to feel tensions. With schedule changes and family stresses, keep an eye out for signs of discomfort among children. Unusual head or backaches, nightmares, withdrawal, irritability and other out of character behaviors are a sign that something is amiss. Talk to your kids or have them visit a safe problem solving resource like www.TeenCentral.net .

Just as there is no perfect plan for the holidays; there is no perfect plan for minimizing stress, says Dr. Herbert Mandell, medical director of KidsPeace and the KidsPeace Childrens Hospital. Planning ahead, being sensible about food, scheduling, and shopping, and having realistic expectations about the can do much in making the season a brighter, healthier one for you, your children and your whole family.

Ideally, the are a culmination of the familys life and activities over the last year. Instead of expecting a sudden, magical lifting of all problems and the onset of a perfect time, use the to celebrate the passing year, rebuild and strengthen bonds through old or new family traditions, and reinforce the positive experiences and messages of the past 12 months. In a sometimes turbulent

world, the are a time when we can reflect on our lives, our relationships with each other, peace on earth, and maybe how best to find peace in our own homes.

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