HAPPY 2007 !
Karen Dennis, January 2007
VARCS would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! May 2007 be one of health, happiness, friendships and prosperity!
We also hope everyone survived the hustle, bustle and stress of the holiday season, we know how it can be. We also know that the "blues" can set in after the season is over, not to mention the financial stress.
The winter holidays have their horrors. Too much rich food, extra demands on your time and wallet, captive encounters with prickly relatives and even loneliness. But holiday blues are not as common or as serious as many psychologists used to believe. Holiday stress may be greatly exaggerated say researchers, who now believe that post-holiday let down and "blues" is a greater threat to emotional well being for most people. Holiday blues typically exacerbate existing emotional problems, the experts say. Healthy people are likely to feel "up" for the holidays. The season has its benefits, paid vacation, special events, family visits and gift giving. The post-holiday season, when you start to pay the bills, work off the added pounds, find yourself alone or have the extra long wait for your cheque in January, all of this can really drag you down.
Here are some tips to prevent the post-holiday blues:
- Sleep! There's no better antidote to stress than sleep, many times sleep is sacrificed during the holidays. When the season is over, give yourself the gift of allowing yourself extra sleep. However, be aware of your emotional state and the length of time you want to sleep and any on-going lethargic feelings, as this may be a sign of clinical depression rather than the post-holiday blues (which if you're not depressed will go away).
- Put your needs back on the top of the list. Identify any self-care pleasures or tasks that were neglected during the season and make them a priority
- Have Fun! Whatever that is for you! Even if its peaceful and relaxing such as reading a book, taking a long hot bath or scrap-booking.
- Laugh! Laughter is said to be the best medicine and is great for reducing stress. Laughing alone is fine, laughing with a friend is even better!
- Hug someone! Physical closeness and intimacy are a great way to reduce stress. Too often we let ourselves get socially isolated at the most social times. Now is the time to reconnect with those who mean the most to you. And don't forget to hug yourself!
- Exercise! It may be a New Year Resolution or not, but you can't beat the value of exercise for reducing stress. Stress increases your adrenaline and cortisol levels and if you don't exercise, you have no other way to "us up" these excess hormones in your system. Any activity that causes your heart rate to be elevated for 20 minutes or more is a bonus, whether it's vigorous walking, aerobics or dancing!