10 Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress For Kids

The holidays can be a great family time especially for kids. However, although kids love holidays, they too can feel stress & anxiety, especially when parents are stressed. Therefore, these holiday stress management tips will help both parents and children recognize holiday anxiety and feel less stress.

First, its important to recognize signs of holiday stress in kids. Some signs of holiday anxiety might include:

Tears for seemingly minor reasons.

Nervous behaviors such as nail biting, hair twirling and acting out in anger.

Physical complaints, such as stomachaches, headaches, fatigue, diarrhea, etc.

Regression to younger behaviors: bed wetting, eating with hands.

Withdrawal from school friends or siblings.

Any behavior that your child doesn’t normally do could be a sign of holiday anxiety. If you notice any of these odd behaviors use the following holiday stress management tips that are most appropriate for your kid.

1. Take children out of the spotlight during holiday plays or performances and minimize overly busy activities. Remember that the holiday season can be busy enough without adding fuel to the fire. And Helping children cope with holiday stress involves knowing their personalities but also their limits.

2. Combine parties and get-togethers to reduce the time you spend partying. For instance, when family members want to see more of you this holiday season, rather than booking a seperate day for the vist, invite them to your kids Christmas party or school play instead.

3. Stick with routines as much as possible. Keep stressful holiday shopping and eating out to a minimum and start preparing for holidays early to avoid the rush.

4. Ask your children what makes them feel better. Do they wind down with music, reading, spending time with you or playing with siblings? To help children calm down during holidays, encourage them to do what they love and take part in the activity as well.

5. Make sure your children eat nutritious foods, drink lots of water, and get exercise. Reducing kids’ holiday stress is very similar to minimizing your own holiday anxiety.

6. Talk to your children about traditions. If you believe in Christ, focus on the real meaning of Christmas and God. If you have traditions, explain why they’ve stayed in your family. Get them involved and keep them involved.

7. Bring a favorite blanket or stuffed animal if you’re staying with family over the holidays. A bit of home will reduce your child’s holiday anxiety.

8. Cope with your own holiday anxiety. The less stress you feel, the more relaxed your children will be.

9. Volunteer at a food bank, kids’ hospital or community centre. Find ways to give to your community. Volunteering often relieves feelings of holiday anxiety and it is good for kids to learn.

10. Light the mood with funny movies, toboggan afternoons and cozy chats with hot chocolate.

So remember that the holiday season can be a cheerful and exciting time for both you and your kids when you take a few extra moments to ensure that the joy and excitement is not overshadowed by stress.

Positive Change Hypnosis

For many people this is truly the most wonderful time of the year. From holiday parties and social gatherings to gift shopping and decorating the home, some folks actually enjoy all of the busyness and sometimes, downright craziness that can often accompany the holiday season.

However, for many the holiday season means a time of loneliness and depression. Maybe this time of year reminds them of lost loved ones. Or maybe they are feuding with family members and/or friends. Or maybe their economic situation has changed, making it difficult to provide the kind of holiday that they are accustom to.

Either way, just because this is the season for smiles and holiday cheer that doesn’t mean that everyone we meet is as cheerful and happy as we might be.

Therefore, if you happen to be one of the lucky ones, it is important to take some extra time this holiday season to remind yourself of how lucky you really are. While you are shopping, remind yourself that some folks are not lucky enough to be able to afford all those expensive electronics or gadgets. And when you sit down for that holiday meal, remind yourself that some folks might be standing in line for their meal at a local food bank. And when you are attending that office party, remind yourself that others are sitting home all by themselves because they have nobody to enjoy or share the holiday with.

The moral of this blog post is not to bring people down. But rather, when we take a few minutes to be thankful for what we have and to remember that others are not so lucky, it makes us a bit more humble and therefore, a little more considerate, caring and compassionate. And those are free things that you can give away as gifts this holiday season.

Get Help With Holiday Depression

Reducing Holiday Stress and Depression

The holiday season can be a happy time for most people. Unfortunately, it can also bring some unwelcome guest such as stress and depression. And it's no wonder. The holidays present a dizzying array of demands — parties, shopping, baking, cleaning and entertaining, to name just a few.

Here are some tips to help you minimize the stress that can accompany the holidays.

1. Don't hide your feelings. If someone close to you has recently passed away or you can't be with loved ones, realize that it's normal to feel a sense of sadness and grief. It's OK to take time to cry or express your feelings. You can't force yourself to be happy just because it's the holiday season.

2. Reach out to others. If you happen to feel lonely or isolated, seek out community, religious or other social events. They can offer support and companionship. In addition, volunteering your time to help others is also a good way to lift your spirits.

3. Be realistic. The holidays don't have to be 100% perfect or just like last year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals may often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to but be open to creating new ones. For example, if your adult children can't come to your house, find new ways to celebrate together by maybe sharing pictures, emails or videos.

4. Set aside differences. Try to accept or make peace with family members and friends that you may have had a rocky relationship with in the past. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussions. And be understanding if others get upset or stressed when something goes wrong. Chances are they're feeling the effects of holiday stress just like you.

5. Stick to a budget. Before you melt that credit card or clean out your bank account on gifts and food, plan ahead. Decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Remember that you can't buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Try these alternatives - Donate to a charity in someone's name, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange.

6. Make a plan for your time and activities. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, and visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make your shopping list. That'll help prevent last minute scrambling to buy forgotten ingredients.

7. Learn to say no. Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can't participate in every project or activity. If it's 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.

8. Don't abandon your health. Don't let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don't go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks. Continue to get plenty of sleep and physical activity.

9. Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Take a walk at night and stargaze. Listen to soothing music. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm.

10. Seek professional help. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for a while, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.

If you take time to follow these simple little tips, you may find that you end up enjoying the holidays more than you thought you would.

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