’Tis the Season to Cope with Holiday Stress

NEW CITY, NY, -’Tis the season of parties, family get-togethers, gift-buying and giving, and … stress. This month may be the busiest time of year for some of us. Give yourself a present and take some time to take care of yourself and reduce your holiday stress.

Here are some suggestions to reduce holiday stress from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Rockland County Department of Health:

• Thinking about skipping a meal to splurge at the party? Think again! It may make you overeat or choose high calorie foods. Instead, plan to have a snack that includes protein before the party - try a handful of sunflower seeds or pistachios with a cup of low-fat yogurt. Remember to drink plenty of water – it’s important even during the winter months.
• Get in the habit of going to bed and waking up at the same time each day to help you sleep better. Drinking something warm, like a non-caffeinated tea, an hour or two before bed can also help relax your body and help you prepare for sleep. As you lie in bed, think positive thoughts, specifically things you are grateful for having in your life. This will help quiet your mind and prepare you for sleep. 
• Move more and sit less. Every little bit of physical activity helps. Even a few minutes of activity makes a big difference! Start a tradition of taking a family walk after your holiday feast!
• Choose not to drink, or to drink in moderation by limiting yourself to 2 drinks in a day for men and 1 drink in a day for women. Mingle more and drink less!
• Avoid smoking, vaping, and the use of other tobacco products. The Rockland County Department of Health Put It Out Rockland Program can help you quit smoking and learn to protect yourself and your family from secondhand smoke. If you or someone you love is ready to quit smoking or needs information, we're here to help. Call us at (845) 364-2651 to quit smoking now!
• Continue with regular health appointments. It’s also important to keep regularly scheduled therapy appointments. This helps make certain you have built-in time to deal with anything that might come up. If you are going out of town and you typically meet in person, ask your therapist about a virtual meeting.
• Make time to unwind and relax. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. These activities can give you a new perspective! Set aside time to do other activities you enjoy, such as reading, listening to music, getting a massage, or having a cup of tea.
• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling; connect with your community-based or faith-based organizations.
• Remember it’s okay to say “no.” You are only one person, and you can only do so much. Be sensible about how much you can handle this season. When you say no to others, you say yes to yourself! 
• Pay it forward by volunteering. If you have a few hours to spare, many organizations in Rockland need volunteers this time of year, such as Rockland Community Against Hunger. You can also check the Rockland County website and Volunteer New York for other places to volunteer.
• Take breaks from news stories, including those on social media. It’s good to be informed, but constant information about negative events can be upsetting. Consider limiting news to just a couple times a day and disconnecting from the phone, TV, and computer screens for a while.

For more information visit the CDC website.

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