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Recognizing that you’re stressed may be the toughest
step in the process. Unmanaged stress can eventually lead to chronic
pain. “South Asian women need to recognize that they need
to take care of themselves. However, they’re not taught how
to do that. They typically can’t identify their own body’s
signals indicating that they are stressed. It isn’t until
they are really sick or their body is breaking down that they pay
attention to what their bodies are telling them,” states Wadhwa.
This means listen to your body. For example, if you’re tired,
get some rest. Unfortunately, women tend to feel guilty when they
take time for themselves and, as a result, tend to put the needs
of others before their own. Women need to remember to take care
of themselves and find ways to manage their stress. Wadhwa asks,
“How are you going to provide for others if you’re not
going to take care of yourself?” Even if time is of the essence,
she recommends spending at least five minutes in the morning and
the evening on something you find purely pleasurable, like playing
with your children, doing deep breathing exercises or watching television.
Even if you only spend ten minutes a day relaxing, that’s
better than nothing!
Simple Ways to Manage Stress During the
Holiday Season
The truth is that there will always be competing demands creating
stress in your life. Thus it is important to find ways to manage
your stress. However, sometimes the thought of managing stress can
be stressful. Luckily, you can start by making small changes to
your daily routine.
Exercise and Food
It is recommended that when you’re stressed you should engage
in some form of exercise. During the holiday season, finding time
to workout in your already hectic schedule may be too burdensome.
However, you can still engage in some form of activity, regardless
of how little. Along with the usual suggestions such as taking the
stairs instead of the elevator or parking further away when going
shopping, Daniel Rowles, a personal trainer at Bally Total Fitness,
suggests the following:
- While standing, stand on one leg (make sure you don’t lock
your knee). This will work on your balance and will strengthen the
muscles around your knees.
- While sitting, raise your foot so that your leg is parallel
to the floor. This will strengthen your quadriceps.
- While lying down, do twenty crunches. This will strengthen your
abs.
- While standing or sitting, contract your abs. This will strengthen
your core.
In addition to exercise, your eating habits can impact how well
your body can withstand stress. With holiday parties and treats
galore, it can be difficult to maintain your diet during this time
of year. Rowles offers the following tips:
- Use holiday treats as rewards for something good that you did
for yourself, like going to the gym.
- Take a healthy food option with you when you go to a holiday
party.
- Drink water instead of soda.
- Moderate how much caffeine you drink.
Time Management
Another way to manage your stress is to actively manage your time.
Think of time as a form of currency. You only have a limited amount
of it, which means that you need to budget it accordingly so that
you can do everything you want to do. Some tips for managing your
time during the holidays include:
- Creating holiday to-do lists. Think of everything you need to
accomplish during the holidays and figure out when you will be able
to get things done over a span of a few weeks. This will prevent
you from procrastinating or running around at the last minute.
- Delegate tasks and errands.
- Find tasks that you can share with other people. Even if you
live alone, ask friends if they want to share holiday errands with
you. For example, if one friend is going to the grocery store, see
if she can get the ingredients for a dish you’re making for
a holiday party. In exchange, you can pick up some holiday cards
and wrapping paper when you’re going shopping.
Managing Stress over Time
Managing your stress may require more than just tweaking your daily
routine. It may require tweaking your mindset and how you react
to different situations. This can be done by identifying the various
stressors in your life and then figuring out how to either remove
them or react to them in a way that is positive for you. It is important
to note that social networks can also act as a buffer against the
effects of stress. When you’re stressed out, try talking to
people who you can trust and who genuinely care about you. The bottom
line is to remember that managing your stress level is another way
you can take care of yourself. And when you have taken care of your
self, you can be your best self for everyone else around you.
Shivani Sharma lives in Washington D.C. and works as a health policy analyst for the Federal government. She can be reached at shivanisharma915@hotmail.com.
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