wellness
FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 20, 2018 • WELLNESS • THE QUEENS COURIER 31
Beat the Bah Humbug: 6 Tips to Relieving Holiday Season Stress
‘Tis the season! While the holidays
are synonymous with peace, love and
joy for many who celebrate, the holiday
season can be fi lled with discomfort.
According to the national “Beating the
Holiday Burn” survey of 2,000 Americans
18 and older, from long to-do lists to disagreements
with loved ones to overeating,
88 percent of respondents noted they feel
stressed when celebrating the holidays.
To help you make the most of this holiday
season, family therapist and author,
Tom Kersting, recommends the following
tips:
1. Seek Silence
Oh, silent night! With the hustle and
bustle of the season, surrounding noises
can create added anxiety. Th roughout
the season, make an eff ort to disconnect
from the outside world and, instead,
reconnect with your inside world. Find
a quiet space where you can think and
evaluate without the world getting in the
way. When silence is hard to come by, a
pair of noise-cancelling headphones can
go a long way in achieving the calm that
silence brings.
2. Practice Mindful Eating
In addition to the unease we may feel,
the foods we consume, whether as a result
of that stress or our desire to indulge, can
have a direct eff ect on how we feel during
the holidays. Th e season is oft en fi lled
with fatty and fried foods and alcohol, all
of which are triggers of heartburn. While
avoiding these foods altogether can be diffi
cult, treating heartburn isn’t. For frequent
heartburn suff erers*, opt for store
brand Omeprazole ODT†, the fi rst and
only orally dissolving form of omeprazole,
the No. 1 selling PPI ingredient in
heartburn treatment**. Find it at retailers
nationwide under each store’s brand label.
3. Make a Personal Appointment
Th e season is oft en packed with busy
schedules and a slew of appointments;
however, how oft en do we make an
appointment with ourselves? Checking in
with yourself is one of the most important
things you can do to alleviate stress.
All you need is 10 to 15 minutes per
day when you can practice meditation
or visualization. Go ahead, get out your
appointment book and add yourself in
there.
4. Exercise Moderately
You don’t need to spend hours at the
gym to feel the positive eff ects of physical
activity. Despite the many demands
on schedules around the holidays, setting
aside even just 30 minutes of light cardio
several times per week can help alleviate
stress. Aerobic exercise is scientifi cally
proven to be one of the most important
prescriptions for treating stress and
anxiety.
5. Step into Someone
Else’s Shoes
Tensions can be high during the season,
especially when you’re forced to
spend time with loved ones with whom
you don’t always get along. Before you let
circumstances get the best of you, take a
breath to think about the “why” behind
their actions. Perhaps their misguided
comments or actions are coming from a
place of love or humor. Instead of letting
these comments wreak havoc on your
day, take the high road and consciously
choose not to give in to negative feelings.
6. Unplug the Devices
Too much screen time and social media
means an information overload - and a lot
of this information can be stress-inducing.
Make it a priority to turn down the
device a lot more this holiday season and
instead connect with loved ones.
While stress can be inevitable, keeping
these tips in mind can help alleviate
the discomfort and allow you to enjoy all
the holiday season has to off er. For more
information, visit dissolveyourheartburn.
com.
Courtesy BPT