Fredericksburg Parent

22 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • November 2020 WRITTEN BY CHRISTA MELNYK HINES to Tame the Are holiday traditions, parties, volunteer commit- ments and shopping turning you into a frenzied ringmas- ter of a runaway circus train? For your sanity and for your health, put the brakes on the holiday rush. Here's how. make a "not-to-Do" list 12 Tips Consciously leave a few ac vi es off the program this year. Ellie Griffi n, a feminine vitality coach, says this is one of her favorite ways to reduce holiday stress. "I love having my clients do this exercise because it makes them realize how much of what they do doesn't have an eff ect on the big picture of their lives," she says. holiday circus 3 1 end a tradition 2 Let go of rituals that are more work than fun or are no longer meaningful. A emp ng to turn the holiday season into the greatest show on earth, could put your health at risk. According to the American Psychological Associa on, chronic stress can weaken your immune system making it harder to recover from illness and can cause heart disease, obesity and depression. catch your zzzs You perform be er when you're well- rested. Strive for seven to eight hours of sleep, which can help you cope be er with stress. "Poor sleep habits keep you ji ery, irritable and feeling like you're just drag- ging yourself around," says Rosalie Moscoe, author of "Frazzled, Hurried Woman! Your Stress Relief Guide to Thriving...Not Merely Surviving." 4 choreograph the chaos Organize your shopping trips. Ask for help from your signifi - cant other. When possible, buy gi s whenever you're already out running errands. Make shipping presents a breeze by pur- chasing some online. A er pounding the pavement, reward yourself with dinner out, pizza delivery or a glass of wine by a cozy fi re.

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