by Kodjo Adadevoh

Created on: September 19, 2010   Last Updated: October 15, 2010

Many of us dread the holiday season, since it creates a lot of stress for us. We have to juggle the ever important need to earn an income and at the same time attend to the various social obligations we have, including, holiday activities at work, at our spouse’s employment, at our kid’s schools and in our communities. 

Life is mostly enjoyed when it is lived in moderation and when our activities are balanced appropriately. During the holidays when things get hectic, the best approach is to clearly delineate obligations from other activities that we would like to do but that time may not permit based on our obligations.  

Most of us know the activities that we enjoy and the people with whom we would like to socialize. So why do we feel so stressed? The obvious answer is that we find it hard saying no to people we either like or respect, even though we know that we really cannot afford the time. 

Very often, effective communication is the solution to stress reduction. We simply need to learn how to inform people that we will not be able to satisfy their desires for us because we will be spending our time doing the things that we have to do and a few things that we really like to do or enjoy. 

Those of us who have kids should take time out to spend quality time with our “better half” our spouses or partners. It is okay and highly desirable for couples to occasionally utilize child care services in order for them to spend quality time with each other. Stress reduction is an active process and a necessary process in order to achieve a healthy state of existence. 

In keeping with the philosophy of “everything in moderation,” it is important to nurture the mind, body and the spirit.  When we learn to provide appropriate nurturing of our minds by thinking healthy thoughts, nurturing our minds with information that empowers us and avoiding mental distractions that are either self-perpetuated or that may result from environmental factors such as friends and family we end up reducing our stress levels.

Our bodies need to be maintained and the only way to maintain the body is to ensure that there is appropriate amounts of exercise to keep our muscles tone and our internal organs functioning properly. Exercise is a good recipe for stress reduction; experts have asserted for a very long time that approximately 30minutes of exercise each day is sufficient to have the required effect. Exercise does not have to be stressful; it is as simple as taking walks when time permits: lunch time at work; in the evenings or mornings at home and over the weekend. 

The spirit is a concept that people of all faiths can relate to. The spirit can be defined in many different ways, but most believers will agree that the spirit is a force that is experienced, believers have most likely experienced something personally that leads them to appreciate the spirit.  Our spirit guides us and comforts us; our spirits provide a moral compass and are a critical part of your everyday lives. 

People who follow basic societal rules that date back to the beginning of mankind and that have worked well in successful societies handle stress appropriately. Living our lives in moderation by taking care of our mind, body and spirit will lead to reduced levels of stress. Following a balanced approach to living our everyday lives is the key to achieving a low stress life.

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