Stress and the Holidays
November 5, 2019
“Magic doesn’t come from perfectly planned moments. Magic comes from being genuinely open to the moments in your life.”
~ Rebecca Cofino
Under the best of circumstances, the holiday season can be challenging and stressful. There is often an expectation that for one day, everything from sibling rivalry to staggering family dysfunction be magically placed aside in an effort to have a Normal Rockwell-esque experience. The term “mutual pretense” describes this as “all the participants try to act as if they are unaware of the most crucial facts in a situation”, such as addiction, terminal illness, financial issues, long-standing family squabbles, etc.
There are actual lists of the top holiday movies with families “more dysfunctional than yours”. For instance, “Christmas Vacation” and “Home Alone” are two of the most familiar. Although humorous, how many of us feel a bit uncomfortable because we may recognize aspects of our own family weirdness? Grandma bakes a certain pie every year even though it’s horrible, there are strict rules about what age children move to the adult table, using the good china is a must, or that one aunt with her terrifying request for a hug.
As the holidays approach, what can you do to stay sane, create healthy boundaries, not abandon your food plan, or wreck your careful budgeting? The Mayo Clinic article “Stress, Depression, and the Holidays: Tips for Coping” provides excellent practical guidelines for not only minimizing the stress that accompanies the holidays but suggests you may end up enjoying them more than you thought you would. So, why ARE the holidays so stressful?
In an article from US News and World Report, the writer suggests a primary source of this stress actually stems from the pressure to be jolly. “It comes down to expectations that run high for joy, for bringing the family together, for giving gifts that show how much you love those around you, for a beautiful meal,” says Debra Kissen, executive director of the Light on Anxiety CBT Treatment Center in Chicago and co-chair of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America’s public education committee. “Any time we set ourselves up with high expectations, it’s not going to work out that way.”
Kissen calls it the “happiness trap.” “When we try too hard to be happy, we make ourselves miserable,” she explains. There are in fact many potential traps during the holidays. The APA study revealed the top stressors include lack of time, money worries, over commercialization, gift-giving pressure and family get-togethers. The hassles of travel and worries about taking time off from work also make the list. And like the article referenced above, this one also provides excellent tips for how to navigate what can be an overwhelming season on many levels. Along with these excellent suggestions, the key for finding meaning in any holiday situation is to stay true to who are other just like all the other days of the year. Although compromise can be healthy and rewarding, not at the expense of your foundational self.
Don’t let the holidays become something you dread. Instead, take steps to prevent the stress and depression that can descend during the holidays. Learn to recognize your holiday triggers, such as financial pressures or personal demands, so you can combat them before they lead to a meltdown. With a little planning and some positive thinking, you can find peace and joy during the holidays.
November 8, 2019
Happy “Hospice & Palliative Care Month” from The Wellness Council!
The Wellness Council has been fortunate to secure chair massages in the Central location from the Healing Touch School of Massage. We recognize how hard you all work, and the stress we carry in our bodies on a daily basis sometimes needs special attention. We encourage you to sign up for a 10-minute session (CNA’s are our backbone and have special times allotted to them due to their schedules with 20 spaces from 2:00-3:20). The sign-up sheet is outside Simone Brock’s office. There are 96 spaces available for staff other than CNA’s from 10:20-2:20 p.m. This is a first come basis on the sign up.
Other locations will have this same opportunity in the future with Wellness Council Member participation. So at this time, please note this date is for the Central Staff only.
Please plan to be on time for your massage in Boardroom B on Tuesday, November 26th! Happy destressing!
November 11, 2019
Happy “Hospice & Palliative Care Month” from The Wellness Council!
We have an exciting opportunity in the works for locations outside of Central and want you to know what fun can be happening in your location in the months ahead! The Wellness Council has been fortunate to secure chair massages in the Central location from the Healing Touch School of Massage in November. Unfortunately, this school only travels in limited areas so using them is not possible for areas outside of Central.
We recognize how hard you all work, and the stress we carry in our bodies on a daily basis sometimes needs special attention, so we are working hard to bring chair massages to your areas with participation from you Wellness Council rep!!
November 12, 2019
Happy “Hospice & Palliative Care Month” from The Wellness Council!
We have an exciting opportunity in the works for locations outside of Central and want you to know what fun can be happening in your location in the months ahead! The Wellness Council has been fortunate to secure chair massages in the Central location from the Healing Touch School of Massage in November. Unfortunately, this school only travels in limited areas so using them is not possible for areas outside of Central.
We recognize how hard you all work, and the stress we carry in our bodies on a daily basis sometimes needs special attention, so we are working hard to bring chair massages to your areas with participation from you Wellness Council rep!!
Be Well…
Arkansas Hospice Employee Wellness Council (EWC) Keeping you Well – Mind, Body, & Spirit
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