Conquering Holiday Stress

1. Conquering Holiday Stress

2. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You Objectives • Understand the causes of stress and recognize stress signals • Learn tips and strategies to reduce stress • Learn practical pointers for managing holiday stress • Develop strategies to manage work and family responsibilities during this busy season • Learn tips to help manage holiday stress in children • Learn tips for taking care of yourself during the holidays • Discover strategies for dealing with holiday-related depression

3. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You What Causes Stress? There are two common types of stress: • External stressors—environmental factors or events • Internal stressors—Specific behaviors, traits or lifestyle choices

4. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You How Stressed Are You? • Do I often feel out of control? • Do I feel constant pressure to achieve? • Do I have difficulty concentrating? • Do I have feelings of depression, helplessness, anxiety or panic? • Do I have difficulty falling asleep or do I wake frequently during the night? • Do I suffer from frequent headaches? • Have I experienced a significant loss of or increase in appetite?

5. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You How Stressed Are You? • Do I feel unusually tired? • Do I cry (or feel the desire to cry) often? • Do I feel faint or dizzy for no apparent reason? • Do I experience frequent nausea? • Do I experience shortness of breath or feel tightness in my chest without exertion? • Do I regularly feel the need to smoke or have a drink to relax?

6. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You Recognizing Symptoms of Stress • Feeling irritable, frustrated and/or angry • Exhaustion • Difficulty concentrating • Excessive worrying and fear • Loss of confidence • Rapid heartbeat • Headache • Stiff neck and/or tight shoulders • Backache • Rapid breathing • Sweating and sweaty palms • Upset stomach, nausea, or diarrhea

7. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You General Tips for Managing Stress • Define your goals • Make time to relax • Establish a support system • Express your feelings • Don’t over commit • Focus on problem-solving • Set Limits, say “no” • Realize you’re not perfect • Laugh often • Practice relaxation and stress reduction techniques • Get enough sleep • Think positive

8. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You Planning Tips to Avoid Holiday Stress • Make a "to-do" list • Get help • Don’t over-commit • Plan ahead

9. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You Tips for Holiday Shopping and Gift Giving • Shop early • Be creative • Wrap gifts as you buy them • Write out holiday cards in advance • Mail presents and cards early

10. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You Controlling Holiday Spending • Reduce your gift giving • Make a budget and stick to it • Discover substitutes • Look for value

11. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You Controlling Holiday Spending (con’t) • Keep receipts and confirm return policies • Avoid unnecessary warranties • Pay off purchases quickly

12. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You Tips for Holiday Travel • Make travel plans early • Allow plenty of travel time • If you’re traveling by air, be aware of regulations • Anticipate traffic jams

13. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You Managing Work and Family • Make reliable child care arrangements • Make adult care arrangements • Have a backup care plan in place

14. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You Managing Work and Family (con’t) • Get organized • Keep the lines of communication open • Use down time to your advantage • Simplify tasks • Ask for help • Be positive • Make time for your loved ones

15. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You Children and the Holidays • Maintain routines • Make sure kids get plenty of sleep • Eat healthy • Keep kids in the loop • Schedule down time • Limit television • Set expectations and limits • Emphasize values • Create and maintain traditions

16. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You Taking Care of Yourself During the Holidays • Get plenty of sleep • Eat—and drink—well • Strive to be healthy • Find “down time” • Recognize stress signals

17. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You Dealing With Holiday-Related Depression • Be realistic • Make the best of it • Create new traditions • Remember lost loved ones • Set differences aside • Do something for others • Plan post-holiday activities

18. eSlide - P4065 - WorkLife4You Emotional Health Web Service Stress & Coping Library Self-Improvement Library On the Job Web Service Setting Priorities Library Time Management Library Working & Coping with Family Issues Library Daily Needs Web Service Shopping Library Interactive Quizzes/AssessmentsLifestyle Test, Balancing Work, Family and Personal Needs, How Stressed Is Your Family? Are You a Workaholic?, Anxiety Test, Depression Test, Patience Test, Procrastination Test HTML Articles OnDemand Webinars/E-SeminarsConquering Holiday Stress, Stress Management with Humor, Managing Work and Life WorkLife4You GuidesManaging Holiday Stress, Stress Management, Managing Work and Life, Communication Skills for Healthy Relationships, Ten Tips to Survive the Holidays without Going Broke, Audio Tips and PodcastsOvercoming Procrastination, How to Shine at Work: Pathways to Productivity Related Web Sites WorkLife4You Resources WorkLife4You web site www.WorkLife4You.com

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