Christmas is around the corner, which means a lot of us are running out to different stores to try and get our holiday shopping done. I love celebrating the holidays because I get to hang out with my family, whom I don’t get to see a lot of during the year, since we all have different lives. Holidays are fun to celebrate, but it can be stressful preparing for them, and sometimes we get so stressed trying to find our loved ones the perfect gift that we spend the whole time stressing and don’t enjoy ourselves. Holiday stress is something that happens to everyone, and it is okay to have a little anxiety because there is a little bit of doubt in all of us that we won’t get things done in time. Stress is normal during the holiday season, but you should not let your stress levels turn you into a Grinch because no one wants to hang out with those types of people. If you are becoming overly stressed to the point it’s affecting your mood, it might be a sign you are taking on too much and need to destress. How can you control your stress levels during the holidays when you have so much to do to prepare? In this post, I am going to talk about what I do to manage my stress levels so I can enjoy the holidays.
Get your shopping done as early as possible- I love going to the store and shopping because I am unable to drive and don’t have a lot of experiences outside of my family life, but I cannot even begin to express how much I hate going out to the store during the holidays. As a disabled person, it is more difficult for me to navigate in my wheelchair in stores because there are more crowds, and the aisles of most stores are too narrow, and my small wheelchair does not fit comfortably. I try to get most or all of my shopping done as early as possible because the closer you get to Christmas, the bigger the crowds are going to be, and I don’t ever want to be that person who is at the store the week before Christmas. Shopping can be stressful during the holiday season because sometimes people are rude, but it can be less stressful when you don’t wait until the last minute. Sometimes you have no choice but to be out shopping a week before Christmas, but if you can it can help be proactive and get your shopping early, it can help lower your stress levels.
Shop online if you can– The first week of December, I was done Christmas shopping and I don’t think I would have finished it that quickly without the Internet. My Christmas list is smaller than most because I don’t make enough money to be able to buy my entire family nice gifts, and that does help me get my shopping done early, but even I sometimes struggle to find gifts and am at the store days before Christmas because some people in my family are hard to shop for. I love the shopping experience, but it can be stressful to shop in person because stores are not accessible, and I face barriers that non-disabled people wouldn’t even think about, which makes me not want to go to the store and get out as fast as possible. Some people may be difficult to shop for, and you may have to go to the stores but if you can do a lot of your shopping online, you will have less stress. Online shopping can also be a great option for disabled people who can’t drive and anyone with chronic pain because it allows us to save energy while still getting gifts for our friends. Stores sometimes are a little less crowded because online shopping exists, and I love that!
Do not stress about things you cannot control- When you are out shopping for the holidays, sometimes people get overly stressed because they couldn’t find the pie they wanted for Christmas dinner. During the holidays, it is easy to get overly stressed and mad at ourselves for not being able to find the perfect gift, which is why it’s so important to remind yourself to not stress about things you cannot control. When I am having a stoma problem at a social gathering, sometimes I have myself getting stressed, and I have to remind myself that my disability is not within my complete control and that stress causes more problems. Stop stressing about things you cannot control, and if you can’t find the gift you were looking for, then find something else, because stressing is not going to get your holiday shopping done faster!
Move your body- Exercise is so important for your physical health and I always talking about the health benefits of movement. Exercise can help improve your cardiovascular health and strength but it also can be a great thing to do if you are stressed. I love to strength train when I am feeling a little anxious because movement boosts your feel-good endorphins and helps you forget about your anxious thoughts. Move your body if you are stressed and go for a walk or do some resistance training because movement is one of the easiest ways you can relieve stress.
Eat a healthy diet- Movement can help relieve stress but your diet also plays a role in your stress levels. If healthy eating is on the back burner and you are eating more cookies than vegetables it can cause more stress because it will cause your cholesterol to go up and you won’t feel well which will make you more stressed. During the holidays people often go to a lot of parties where there will be a lot of sugary beverages and it’s okay to have these things but if you really want to manage your stress levels it’s so important to continue to eat healthy. Unhealthy diets make us feel sluggish and more concerned about our bodies, but you could eliminate that stress by simply eating in a way that feels good to you. You don’t have to wait until January to start eating healthy!
Do some yoga or meditate- When I am stressed, I prefer to do high-intensity workouts such as weightlifting because I have found that sitting and meditating only makes me think about my anxiety more. Some people are different and respond well to something more relaxing and slower-paced such as yoga or meditation. If movement is helping your stress levels, try doing some yoga or meditation to help you relax. There are many forms of meditation and doesn’t necessarily mean you have to sit in a quiet room with your eyes closed and some people may use reading as a form of meditation. Find something that helps you relax and relieve stress because everyone is different and it’s okay if your methods are a little bit different than what people expect as long as it helps.
Holiday stress is part of the experience and is normal but you shouldn’t let it get so bad that all you can think about is when it’s going to be over. Enjoy the holiday season because it will be over before you know it and you’ll be mad at yourself if you spend the whole time stressing about things that weren’t in your control. Self-care is so important during the holidays but sometimes it gets neglected because we get busy and forget to take time for ourselves. Make sure that you set time for yourself to relax because, during this busy time of year, we all need time to sit and relax. High-stress levels can negatively affect your health, and it is so important that if you find yourself overly stressed you take time to recognize it and do something about it before you cause a health problem. How do you manage stress during the holidays? If you liked this post, please leave a comment below and share it with your friends.
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My Rockin Disabled Life 
These are all important reminders! Thank you!💕
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