Lean into year-end stress for stress-free holidays
The end of the year is generally filled with gatherings and celebrations, but it also means dealing with year-end deadlines, family demands and social commitments, which can lead to rising anxiety levels. So, what can we do about it?
Where are we now?
Often, when nearing year-end, we tend to accumulate stress that we don’t always address, and which worsens our ability to navigate work, family and friends.
Many people report high stress levels at work, which needs to be tackled at both the individual and organisational level.
What can you do?
Perhaps the most helpful thing at such a time is learning how to turn everyday stress into ‘optimal stress’. Stress itself does not have to be negative; but when it becomes chronic, without a restorative calming state, it can become devastating.
Start taking breaks from your work and include something you enjoy doing into your everyday schedule. Manage stress like you would a work problem; monitor and understand the cause, then employ practical strategies to address it.
After doing that for yourself, turn your attention to others. Set the right tone by encouraging everyone to share their thoughts and perspectives without negative repercussions.
Sometimes, the simplest thing we forget to do is the most important – breathe. Real, intentional breathing is calming to the brain and the nerves. Take deep breaths that reach the pit of your belly and hold for a moment or two before releasing slowly.
What’s next?
Inculcate good habits to prevent a crisis in the first place. It’s okay to say ‘no’ – you don’t have to succumb to the expectations of others.
Practise everyday gratitude for the things that matter to you, however small or insignificant it may seem to others. Find joy in the mundane and ordinary to calm your senses and listen to what our body and mind need.
Begin a self-care routine that you may be able to take with you into the new year. Find what works for you, establish what you want out of it, and start nurturing habits that not only help you get re-centered but that are also sustainable.
And on that note, dear friends and supporters of Thrive HR Exchange, we will be taking a slightly longer break this January to practise what we preach - to truly walk the walk. We will be utilising this time to regroup and shower ourselves with some self-care rituals, before coming back in late January 2023, refreshed and armed with more insights, tips and tools for a happy and healthy 2023.
1. Here’s how to help your kids deal with end-of-school-year stress.
2. See how you can approach self-care as you would a business meeting.