Do you get stressed out over the holidays? Most of us do. What can you do to help alleviate your stress? Here are a few tips I found to help you during this stressful time. You can’t avoid stress, but you can stop it from becoming overwhelming by practicing some daily strategies:
- Exercise when you feel symptoms of stress coming on. Even a short walk can boost your mood. When you are at work or on your lunch break you should take a nice walk outside if the weather is good.
- At the end of each day, take a moment to think about what you’ve accomplished, not what you didn’t get done. Reflect on the accomplishments and add what was not completed to the next day’s “To do” list.
- Set goals for your day, week, and month. Narrowing your view will help you feel more in control of the moment and long-term tasks.
- Consider talking to a therapist or your healthcare provider about your worries if they are constantly taking over your thoughts and getting in the way of your workday.
- Learn to say “no” to additional responsibilities when you are too busy or stressed.
- Stay connected with people who keep you calm, make you happy, provide emotional support and help you with practical things. A friend, family member or neighbor can become a good listener or share responsibilities so that stress doesn’t become overwhelming.
- Here are some tips from other nurses and assistants if you are working on the holidays:
- Create traditions at work. Set up a potluck with your coworkers. We are family after all. Wear matching T shirts. Maybe a secret Santa for those only on your shift that day.
- Use these as talking points with your patients. Ask them what their traditions are.
- Decorate to lift everyone’s spirit.
- Make handwritten cards to hand out to staff and patients to put a smile on their face.
I hope you find these tips helpful. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday.
Jessica Buswell
