The holidays are usually a time of celebration and joy, but for many people they are also extremely stressful. And if your anxiety levels spike this December, you're not alone.
According to the study, nearly half, 41%, of American adults feel more stressed this time of year American Psychological Association. 'I think you can find comfort in the fact that you're not the only one feeling very stressed,' says happiness expert Jessica Weiss.
Weiss has spent over a decade giving talks and workshops on the topic of happiness at work, including a TED talk titled “Happiness: It's an inside jobHere are her tips for lifting your mood this season.
1. Stay socially connected
According to Weiss, when you're feeling stressed, “the most important thing is to stay socially connected,” she says. Specifically, try to “have some micro moments of connection.”
They can be held among family and friends and do not have to be too long. “I say about 10 minutes,” he says. Ideally, this should be done in person, but if it has to be done via phone call or text, that's fine too. Try to have at least two moments of connection a day.
“Even short moments of positive interaction will increase happiness and reduce stress,” she says.
2. Maintain your routine
Second, no matter what the holiday season brings in terms of an array of seasonal activities, “maintain your regular routines,” she says.
For Weiss, it's exercise, but “maybe your regular routine is reading for half an hour in the morning,” he says. “Maybe your regular routine is to do some breathwork before you start your day. Maybe your regular routine is to relax in a hot bath.”
It's especially important to continue doing whatever you do to de-stress. This will make “everything seem much more normal,” she says.
3. Say no when you need to
Finally, schedules can get full very easily this time of year, but you don't have to say yes to every invitation. “Say no to everything that exhausts you,” says Weiss.
– Some things will be necessary, right? – he says – maybe, for example, family meetings. But, he adds, “things that are unimportant are things that can be said no, and the litmus test is what is the worst that could happen if I say no to them?”
If you realize that it won't have serious consequences, you have a chance to say no and get that time back.
Ultimately, Weiss believes that “sometimes less celebration means more joy.”
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