TIME for CHRISTMAS
It’s the final few days before Christmas. The time is filled with recitals and Christmas performances, decorating, baking, family guests, last- minute shopping and gift wrapping. The holiday that was heralded by the angels to mark the beginning of “peace on earth, goodwill toward men” has become one of the most stressful seasons of the year. Along with all the added activities, financial and relational demands add even more unnecessary stress to the season. How do we survive Christmas without the stress?
With the countdown to Christmas ticking off, let’s take a few minutes to stop, take a deep breath, and see if we can eliminate the unwelcomed visitor of stress from our holiday celebration. First, let’s identify if all the extra activity is pushing your stress meter up. Are you finding yourself having more trouble sleeping or restless? Are you more accident prone, quicker to be sharp with your children, more tired than usual, or having unexplained stomach problems or heart palpitations? Do you feel there is just not enough time to get everything done? With budgets being a bit tighter, do you find yourself worrying about money? Do you have extended family members who try to dictate how your holiday should be celebrated? If you answer yes to several of these questions, you are experiencing some of the characteristics associated with “burn-out.” 
What is “burn-out”? It is simply the body’s response to too many demands. Unless we steward these added responsibilities well, we can find ourselves grumpy, sick, exhausted, and not enjoying this wonderful time of the year. Stress literally damages the body. That adrenaline pump that we get to meet the challenges of life produces a chemical depression afterwards. Perhaps this is where the “Christmas blues” originated? Stress also lowers our resistance, leading to immune system breakdowns and susceptibility to all those virus and flu germs floating around in the crowds. Unhealthy emotions can surface when we try to adjust the pressure, including anxiety. Finally, as the body continues to try to deal with all the stress demands, it retaliates in physical and psychological exhaustion. It is simply asking you for a “time-out” to slow down and rest!
Realistically, what you can you do at this point to counter the stress? Here’s some simple ideas that can help you, even if you still have a million things to finish before December 25th.
#1- Don’t alter your SLEEP cycle if possible. Our body heals cells while we sleep. Try to avoid cutting into your sleep time to accomplish all the extra activities. Keep in mind also, our bodies LOVE routine. You will feel more energy getting up and going to bed at the same time each day, even on weekends. #2- Take time to BREATHE and be THANKFUL. When you are standing in the endless lines waiting to get the perfect gift, or simply trying to buy groceries and you begin to feel stress rising—use the time to count your blessings. Think about the wonderful things in your life, think about great memories from Christmases past, take a few deep breaths to release chemicals from your hormones that cause your body to calm. Also, don’t hold back the tears when a Christmas story or play touches your heart. Stress produces two chemicals into your body—prolactin and ACTH. Your tears literally rid your body of these stored stress hormones. That’s why your body feels the urge to cry—to rid itself of all the stress. #3- PLAN your outings to lessen stress. Planning eliminates impulse buying, which adds even more stress. Make a list of everyone on your gift list and decide what you would like to get as well as all the ingredients for Christmas dinner. Check sales on-line or in the newspaper to find the best prices and to decide gift ideas in an environment where you are in charge. Write down each item, place to buy it, and try to do shopping during weekdays during non-peak times to avoid crowds. This also gives you an opportunity to plan your Christmas budget so there are not unplanned expenses that add to stress.
#4- DIET plays an important role in stress. Low folic acid levels can produce a feeling of sadness or stress. Avoid caffeine. It only takes four soft drinks or coffee per day to distort your inner clock.
#5- DON’T FORGET THE REASON FOR THE SEASON. Unfortunately, often our increased activities cut into our private time with God. We skip our quiet time with Him to rush on into the day. You have too much to do today to NOT spend time with God for strength and peace.
Finally, when we finally get through all the big rush to get ready for the big day, all the extra cooking, guests, and hustle and bustle, the week after Christmas is typically a student holiday from school. Children will be off schedule and parents must deal with finding babysitting arrangements or take time off from work. Patterns and schedules help the body regulate emotions, so everyone is out of sorts with all the unusual schedules and stress. Instead of being a time to enjoy two weeks with your children for a mid-year break, often it is a time to wish everyone was back to school and things just get back to “normal.” Take TIME to enjoy your wonderful family.
