Is Holiday Stress on Your Shopping List?
The holidays are a busy time of year for most people, and stress and anxiety have become almost an expectation during the months of November and December. According to a study conducted by the American Psychological Association, eight out of ten people anticipate stress during the holiday season, and women experience a higher degree of seasonal stress (44 percent) than men (31 percent). While some amount of daily stress is normal and a good thing, too much can negatively impact health and well-being.
What’s great about holiday stress is that it’s predictable, so it is possible to proactively minimize the stress we experience and reduce the potential negative impact it can have on our health. You can find all kinds of advice for reducing stress with a quick internet search, here are a few noteworthy suggestions:
- Set priorities
- Simplify
- Get organized
- Stick to a budget
- Moderation
- Schedule time for yourself
- Get enough sleep
- Take your dietary supplements every day
A recently published study (in 242 healthy volunteers complaining of psychological stress) found that taking vitamins and minerals, probiotics and magnesium supplements for one month reduced levels of stress and fatigue and improved feelings of well-being and this was maintained for at least one month after discontinuing the supplements (as assessed by the Perceived Stress Scale). While it is important to note that this is one observational study, there are no major drawbacks to supporting your health with dietary supplements. Some holiday-related stress is to be expected and how you respond determines how the holiday will be remembered. Remember- plans will change, flights will be cancelled, food will be burned, and children will misbehave, but you’ve got it covered!!
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2006/12/holiday-stress.pdf
