Don’t let stress take the happy out of the holidays.
Could another season of good cheer really be upon us? Whether or not we feel cheery, the holidays indeed are here – along with added stress, both at work and at home. End-of-year deadlines, along with holiday shopping, parties and entertaining, are enough to leave sales reps – and their family, friends and customers – reeling.
This season, when the going gets a little too rough, keep in mind the following stress-relieving tips offered by Mayo Clinic:
- Acknowledge your feelings. You can’t force yourself to be happy simply because it’s the holiday season.
- Reach out. Participating in community, social or religious events, as well volunteering time to help others, is a good way to lift one’s spirits and broaden friendships.
- Be realistic. Some years, the holidays just aren’t perfect. Nor do they have to be.
- Set aside differences. Accept others for who they are.
- Stick to a budget.
- Plan ahead, particularly with regard to shopping, baking and entertaining.
- Learn to say no. Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed.
- Don’t abandon healthy habits in the face of holiday parties and the abundance of sweets.
- Take a breather. Sometimes even 15 minutes of alone time is enough for one to regain his or her focus.
Holiday and year-end stress have a knack for finding their way into the workplace, and situations that are stressful for you may not affect your colleagues. To begin coping with stress at work, identify your stress triggers.
Record situations and events that lead you to have negative physical, mental or emotional response.
- Where were you?
- Who/what was involved?
- What was your reaction?
- How did you feel?
- Evaluate your stress inventory.
- Are there consistent causes of stress?
- Is your commute to work or office workspace contributing to your stress?
Once you have identified your stress triggers, look for ways to resolve them. For instance, sometimes the solution is as simple as restructuring your day by arriving to work early, shortening your lunch hour and leaving earlier at the end of the day.
Efficient time management skills are often key in helping to relieve work-related stress, according to Mayo, which recommends the following:
- Set realistic goals with realistic expectations.
- Make a priority list.
- Protect your time with uninterrupted blocks of time to address difficult projects.
To maintain a healthy perspective, Mayo suggests:
- Talk with friends and colleagues to get their perspective, insight and suggestions.
- Schedule breaks.
- Have an outlet, such as reading or a hobby to offset work demands.
- Attend to your health by following a healthy diet, including physical activity in your daily routine and getting plenty of sleep.
If, in spite of all efforts, year-end stress continues to plague you, remember this: A new year – and a fresh start – is just around the corner.