I got an email in my inbox, this week that said, "Are you stressed out this season?". And I thought to myself, should I be? I find it interesting that the holiday season is advertised to be "full of cheer", "merry", and "the most wonderful time of the year" and yet it seems also be associated with stress and “bah humbugs”. Are the holidays inherently a stressful time of year? Or is it our attitude?
I suppose you could argue that:
Shopping in big crowds is the worst.
I'm broke.
I can't stand cousin or uncle so and so.
My family never gets along for long periods of time.
Traveling is such a bother.
There are so many parties and dinners to go to.
Everything is so expensive.
I can't go home because (insert reason here).
And I'm sure the list could go on!
If this is all you're focusing on, then of course the holidays will seem like an overwhelming time with not enough time and too much do! However, the holidays are so much more than the commercial hype, if you're religious the holidays are a time to celebrate your beliefs with loved ones. If you're not religious the holidays are still a time to celebrate and be with loved ones.
With the cold weather and wintery road conditions, we have enough natural stressors to weaken immune systems without focusing on the negatives that may be associated with this time of year. So this holiday season, I encourage you to let gratitude be your attitude for your health’s sake.
Stress can affect our health many ways, it can:
Weaken your immune system,
Impair your digestive function (Hello IBS!),
Wreak havoc on your hormones (Don’t get me started about PMS),
Impact your mood (leading to and worsening depression and anxiety)
Just to list a few effects, but who’s counting.
Managing stress is not always an easy task, but as you can see the benefits of trying are worth the effort. One way to manage stress is to include a daily practice of gratitude. This small daily practice will help you create a shift in your mindset that will help you to better cope with stressful situations as you encounter them. The beauty of this exercise is that it’s simple and doesn’t take too much to do. It might not come naturally at first, but with a conscious effort this practice will change the way you view your world and encounter perceived challenges!
How to get started:
Every day either when you wake up or before you go to bed at night, make of list of at least 3 things you are grateful for. Yes that simple.
After that, take 2 minutes (no more!) to write about a positive experience you had that day. Reflect on how the experience made you feel. I got this exercise from a business coach I had, and I absolutely love it. It can feel challenging on days where we felt like nothing went your way, but it time you’ll find it easier to pick out your positive experiences and may even find you have a lot to choose from!
When you experience a challenging situation, look for the learning experience. Are you being challenged to exercise more patience, show more humility, or be more compassionate? I strongly believe that we experience challenges as ways to grow personally.
When you encounter a situation that is frustrating, or upsetting acknowledge how it makes you feel and then look for the learning opportunity. This will help you change your perspective on the experience and lower your body’s stress response.
So make Gratitude your Attitude for a Stress-Less Holiday Season!
Wishing your Happy Holidays and an Awesome New Year!
Dr. Catherine Newry, ND
Dr. Catherine Newry is a trailblazer with the Happy Healthy Women’s Uptown Toronto Branch. As a naturopathic doctor she helps women lead healthy, active lives with more energy, balanced hormones, and improved digestion using nutrition, herbal medicine, acupuncture, and health education. For more information about assessing your personal health, contact her at info@drcatherinenewry.com or visit her website: www.drcatherinenewry.com.