Spend the holidays meaningfully

The holiday season is just round the corner and you must be already in the mood dreaming of a fabulous time - and why not - you deserve it.

With all the economic and social issues we experienced over the past few months, our stress levels may have gone up affecting our lives in many ways.

We all like breaks - and there is one approaching us. But if we are not conscious about the flipside of holiday making, it would add to the stress we already carry. Spending holidays meaningfully needs careful planning and conscious management of related activities.

Tensions

The very same relationships we enjoy can also cause turmoil, conflict or stress at any time. Tension is often heightened during holidays. Family issues, misunderstandings and conflicts can intensify. Anticipate what can go wrong and avoid any potential experience that can spoil your holiday making.

Impulse buying

With improved income by way of bonuses, we spend money on impulse buying. Like your relationships, your financial situation can cause stress at any time of the year. The strain of shopping, visiting friends and relatives, attending social gatherings and preparing holiday meals tire you. Feeling exhausted increases your stress, creating a vicious cycle.

Some celebrate to outdo others. Holiday destinations, food and accommodation, entertaining friends and gifts are areas where comparisons are made. Know your capacity and do what's right for you.

Use the opportunity wisely

While I'm no expert on the subject, I thought I should share with you some thoughts which I think are practical. These should bring your stress level down and be rejuvenated to enhance performance after the holiday season.

Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, travelling, visiting friends and other activities. This will help prevent a last-minute scramble to buy gifts, going places, or visiting relatives.

Watch your budget

Stick to a budget. Before you go shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend on gifts and other items. Be sure to stick to your budget. If you don't, you could feel anxious and tense for months afterward as you struggle to pay the bills.

Learn to say no. Believe it or not, people will understand if you can't do certain activities during this period. If you say yes only to what you really want to do, you'll avoid feeling resentful and overwhelmed. If it's really not possible to say no when your boss asks you to work overtime, try to remove something else from your agenda to make up for the lost time.

Don't let the holidays become a dietary free-for-all. Some indulgence is necessary - after all its limited exposure, but prolonged overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt in the long run. Don't abandon healthy habits for temporary pleasure risking your health.

Make new friends; this brings about new dimensions to your life. New friends mean new knowledge, opportunities, fun and strength - but only if you meet the right ones. Also work on strained relationships and make a fresh start.

Be on top

Taking time off for yourself is paramount. Spending a mere 30 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do.

Resolutions can set you up for failure if they're unrealistic. Don't resolve to change your whole life to make up for past excess. Instead, try to return to basic, healthy lifestyle routines. Set smaller, more specific goals within a reasonable timeframe. The space you would find during a long holiday season is the best for this.

In real life, people don't usually resolve problems within an hour or two. Something always comes up. Remember that one key to minimizing holiday stress and depression is knowing that the holidays can trigger stress and depression.

Accept that things will not go as planned. Then take steps to manage stress and depression during the holidays. You may actually enjoy the holidays this year more than you thought you would.