Get Enough Sleep
This is one of the most important things you can do to combat the effects of holiday stress. Unfortunately, this is the time of year people typically get less sleep, due to all the parties, obligations, and extra long to do lists.
Burning the candle at both ends results in the cold/flu season and other unwelcome setbacks during non-pandemic times. With Covid-19 case numbers back on the rise, your immune system needs all the help it can get. In addition, sleep deprivation can leave us with less patience, causing us to react (usually with anger or frustration) to a negative situation or challenge with a co-worker or family member, rather than respond in a calm and respectful manner. To counteract this, strive for 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Make an effort to get a good night's sleep on the nights you are not attending events, and try to schedule time this weekend for a nap. If you can make getting enough sleep a regular habit, you'll find your health improving, as well as your mood. In addition, you'll have more energy to be creative, solve problems, cope with stress and concentrate on your work. If getting a good night's sleep has always been a challenge for you, I invite you to give meditation a try. There are plenty of apps that can help you get started. Calm, Insight Timer, 10 Percent Happier, and Headspace are a few of my favorites. Yoga Nidra also can help you drift off or back to sleep. I encourage you to give these ideas a try and would love to hear how it goes. Please contact me if you would like to learn more about my stress management workshops for employees or individual resilience coaching. Wishing you all the best for a peaceful holiday season!
