Seasonal Stress: Are You Heading for a Holiday Burnout?

SEASONAL STRESS: Are You Heading for a Holiday Burnout? Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, or Easter may give us enough reasons to be jolly, but apparently most people don't spend a lot of time enjoying themselves. In fact, the holidays are, for many, the busiest and most stressful period of the year, leading to poor dietary choices, sleep deprivation, and binge eating or drinking. Here, we take a look at the main causes of seasonal stress and the way people can cope with it. Stress, the Real Holiday Spirit? For most Americans, holidays equal spending, and spending equals stress: $602 BILLION $737.95 Increase every year for the last 10 years Holiday sales in 2013 3 TIMES 90 MINUTES MILES Number of times customers Average time spent waiting in line Average distance shoppers must cover around stores to are elbowed or pushed throughout the day buy presents Christmas is more stressful than: Looking after a newborn Divorcing Finding a new job Moving to a new house Women, More Sensitive or Drama Queens? Women report stress more often than men, but are they really under more pressure? 50% of men think women exaggerate the stress and tiredness of the 1/3 believe they could manage the festive preparations better than their partners. holidays. Right of Reply 40% 42% 85% of women worry that their cooking and organizing skills will be criticized by the other family members. of women said that hosting Christmas dinner is the most stressful event of the year. of women think men neither know, nor can handle holiday preparations. Biggest worries of women: Entertaining guests Being embarrassed by their family Planning meals Putting the Relationship to a Test Although the holidays should make people more forgiving and at peace with the world, December is the month when couples fight the most. A study of 3,000 participants revealed that: 1 in 20 couples doubt their relationship will make it past the Christmas holidays. 1 in 5 are already thinking of leaving their partner. 1 in 5 hate Christmas because they know it will cause a lot of arguments with their partner. The Turkey of Discord Ironically, Americans experience a lot of stress and worry - and not that much gratitude and enjoyment - at the Thanksgiving dinner table. • 32 percent of those surveyed named family as the number one Thanksgiving stress Aside from bickering at the dinner table, 70 percent of people are also stressed because they're eating too source. much. For 14 percent, arguments and family squabbles are integral to Thanksgiving Day. Easter, Least Stressful Time of the Year Research from Sainsbury's revealed that Easter is much less demanding than winter holidays. 8 OUT OF 10 moms said Easter is less stressful 44% than Christmas. feel less pressure to throw a perfect lunch for Easter compared to organizing the Christmas dinner. 36% of moms feel less 6 IN 10 obligated to invite the extended family over for the Easter consider Easter more relaxing because there isn't so much pressure to attend parties and social gatherings. holidays. Tips to Take the Pressure Off Don't let stress hijack the holiday spirit. Do the following instead: Plan ahead. Don't leave all the shopping and preparations for the last moment. Make a plan and stick to it. Bake or buy? If you find it stressful, spend less time in the kitchen and hit the supermarkets to put food on the table for the upcoming holidays. Call or card? For many, sending out holiday cards is a lengthy and stressful event. Stick to calling, instead, or try out online cards - they work just as well. Lighten up. No matter how you're planning to spend the upcoming holidays, don't forget to smile, be compassionate, and enjoy time spent with your family. Keep Calm and Seek Chiropractic Help Through its impact on the nervous system, chiropractic care has a vital role in equipping your body to deal with seasonal stress. Whether physical, chemical, or emotional, stress can be eliminated through safe and non-surgical techniques: Stress Reduction Therapy Massage Therapy Spinal Manipulation uses neurological stress decreasing methods to change the body's perception to internal and external is beneficial in stress relief and improvement of many health conditions, including anxiety, ensures long-term wellness and has been proven effective in chronic disease prevention. stressful factors. depression, injury prevention etc. SOURCES: www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/12/15/december-is-the-most-stressful-month-for-couples_n_1151100.html www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2074597/December-stressful-month-couples-fret-Christmas-finances.html articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-23/man-woman/35867778_1_christmas-dinner-christmas-day-christmas-stress www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-survey-reveals-christmas-is-the-sixth-most-stressful-life-event-154705325.html www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/christmas-50-facts-you-never-187323 christmas.organizedhome.com/reality-check/ten-ideas-stress-free-holiday-season www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=Pages&sp_id=1140 cypresscreekchiro.com/stress-reduction-therapy--nano-srt.html en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_adjustment www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2006/12/women-stress.aspx www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/media/latest-stories/2012/20120406- less-stress-and-more-time-makes-easter-a-cracking-time-for-mums/ Brought to you by INDMILL Windmill Health Center EALTH CENTEN www.windmillhealthcenter.com