 | Lisa Vermillion is President and co-owner of Get Fit Bee Fit and Thin and Healthy Weight Management. Lisa opened Get Fit- 4 years ago in Valley Center, after receiving certifications thorough the American Council on Exercise as a Weight and Lifestyle Management Consultant and Certified Personal Trainer. In January, she Grand Opened Thin and Healthy Weight Management in the same location. Lisa not only provides weight loss programs for individuals but she also implements business wellness programs for small businesses and large corporations. Additionally, Lisa is a Certified Life Coach providing guidance for individuals in the areas of career, relationship and personal development. She is available for speaking engagements in the areas of Physical Fitness, Weight Management, or any Life Coaching area (goal setting, positive attitude, sales, etc). Lisa can be reached for questions or speaking engagements by phone (316) 755-1115 or email at mvmillion@yahoo.com |
I always feel so stressed out during the holidays. We have so much to do. Are there any tips on how to stay sane?
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It’s easy to feel stressed during the holidays. There are some key things you can do to help alleviate some stress. By grouping activities together to save time, saying "no " to some things, asking for help and delegating responsibilities, you can remain relaxed during the season.
First, you must accept responsibility for how you feel. It’s easy to get stuck in an "I don’t have any choice" frame of mind. It’s easy to let circumstances control you instead of you controlling how you respond to your circumstances. The reality is, you have control over most of your time. Once you accept this fact, you can begin to do something about your situation.
One thing you can do is group activities together to save time. For example, you can drop the kids off at practice, go to the store, pick the kids back up, and drop themail at the box on the way home. Make a list of the things you want to accomplish, then group activities that can be done simultaneously or in the same trip. If you’ll take a few seconds to think it through, you’ll save time and energy, not to mention gas.
The second thing you can learn to do is say "no " to some things. Most of the things we think we "should "do, in reality aren’t items that must be done. For example, " I should go to that party because she always comes to mine", or "I should make a big dinner, because it’s our tradition".
The truth is if she gets angry because you don’t go to her party, or someone is disappointed because you choose to break a tradition and go with an easier alternative to help you stay sane, this may sound harsh, it’s not your problem.
Everyone gets to choose how they respond. The freeing thought is that you are not responsible for, nor can you control, how anyone else responds. If they’re angry or disappointed, it’s because they choose it. We are taught to put others above ourselves, however, it’s just as important to be "healthy selfish" and take care of yourself as well.
Finally, you can ask for help. Delegate some responsibilities to someone else. Granted the thing might not get done exactly the way you would have done it. It is Ok to let some things go that don’t matter as much and save your energy for the things that are most important to you. For example, instead of fixing a big meal yourself, have everyone bring a dish. Ask your family to step up and help, or hire some help if you wish.
Give yourself permission to get the help you need to make things better for you.
When you realize that you are in control of your holiday, you can develop a plan to make your life easier. Make a list and get as many things done in one trip as possible, say no to some things so you can say yes to better opportunities, and ask for help when you need it. Implementing these strategies and attitudes will not alleviate all your stress, but they will go a long way in helping you stay calm and collected so you can enjoy your holiday.