Stress Proofing Your Christmas, UK

Main Category: Anxiety / Stress
Also Included In: Heart Disease;  Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia
Article Date: 03 Dec 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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With Christmas just around the corner, the festive fun can often be overshadowed by stress. The pressures of Christmas shopping, time, money, and social demands can often lead to anxiety, sleep disturbances, headaches, loss of appetite and even poor concentration, all of which are symptoms of stress. Over time, stress can contribute towards heart disease, stroke and cancer so it's important that you take steps to manage it.

Stress-bust your Christmas with these seasonal tips:

-- Set aside the time to get your Christmas shopping done in one day - don't spread the stress, tackle it all at once.

-- Beat the frustrating queues by shopping on the internet, to save time, and reduce your travelling expenses.

-- As money is a major concern over Christmas, why not set your budget in advance and try to stick to it and help reduce anxiety over nightmare credit card bills. Using the internet to shop and comparing prices to get the cheapest deal is great if you're feeling the pinch and can be done in the comfort of your own home.

-- Dealing with family and relatives during Christmas can be trying, and too much alcohol can make things worse. Try to moderate the alcohol consumption during the festivities and stick to the daily recommended allowance as your waistline and heart benefit too.

-- Children can be quite demanding at this time of year, so keep them occupied with an early present such as a game or DVD.

-- Taking regular exercise may also help relieve stress as it will increase your energy levels, boost your confidence and self-image and stimulate the release of endorphins, also known as 'happy hormones'.

-- Remember to take some time out to relax and find an activity you enjoy like reading, meditation, exercising or even chatting to friends or family.

Don't let stress beat you down this Christmas and enjoy the festivities with a happy heart

Heart Research UK