#HolidayStress

[tmarshconnors]

The Pointlessness of Black Friday

Introduction:

Black Friday, the day that has become synonymous with frenzied shopping, long lines, and steep discounts, has become an annual tradition for many. Retailers lure consumers with promises of unbeatable deals and savings, but is the chaos of Black Friday really worth it? In this blog, we'll explore the notion that Black Friday may, in fact, be more pointless than we realize.

Consumerism Run Amok:

One of the primary criticisms of Black Friday is its contribution to the rampant consumerism that plagues society. The day seems to encourage a "buy now, think later" mentality, leading people to purchase items they may not need simply because they appear to be a good deal. This unchecked consumerism not only contributes to environmental issues but also fosters a culture where possessions are valued over experiences.

The Illusion of Savings:

While Black Friday may seem like a bargain hunter's paradise, the reality is often quite different. Retailers employ various tactics to create a sense of urgency, such as limited-time offers and doorbuster deals. In some cases, the discounts aren't as deep as they appear, with some items being marked up before the sale, only to be discounted back to the original price or slightly lower. Consumers may end up spending more than they intended, lured by the illusion of significant savings.

Overhyped and Underwhelming:

The hype surrounding Black Friday can lead to inflated expectations. Consumers anticipate massive discounts and incredible deals, only to find that the products on sale are often outdated or of lower quality. The pressure to make quick decisions in crowded stores can result in hasty purchases that buyers may later regret.

The Human Cost:

The scenes of chaos that often accompany Black Friday, with shoppers rushing into stores and sometimes engaging in aggressive behavior, raise questions about the human cost of this consumerist frenzy. Retail workers are often forced to work long hours under stressful conditions, with some stores opening on Thanksgiving Day itself. This raises ethical concerns about the impact on employees and their ability to spend time with family during the holiday season.

Online Alternatives:

In recent years, the rise of online shopping has provided an alternative to the chaos of in-store Black Friday sales. Cyber Monday, the digital counterpart to Black Friday, offers many of the same deals without the need to brave crowded stores. This shift raises the question: if the same deals are available online, why subject oneself to the stress and potential dangers of in-person shopping on Black Friday?

Conclusion:

While Black Friday may be deeply ingrained in modern consumer culture, it's worth questioning whether the chaos and frenzy associated with it are truly necessary. The rise of online shopping, coupled with ethical concerns and the environmental impact of unchecked consumerism, invites us to reconsider the value of this annual shopping extravaganza. Perhaps it's time to shift our focus away from accumulating possessions and towards more meaningful experiences that truly enrich our lives.

[acuhijama]

The holidays are meant for joy, but stress and anxiety can sneak up on you. Acupuncture is a natural way to restore balance and relax during this busy season. Here’s how it helps: Ready to de-stress? Book your acupuncture session today and enjoy a peaceful holiday season! 🌿 2644 E Dempster St Suite 112 Park Ridge, IL 60068 🌐 https://acuhijama.com/ 📞 (847) 865-4848 📧 AcuHijama.info@gmail.com

[spearsbrandonbooks]

Navigating Holiday Stress: Finding Balance in a Chaotic Season

As the holiday season approaches, I can already feel the stress creeping in. It’s in the gridlocked traffic, the tight expressions on people’s faces at the grocery store, the hurried pace at the post office, and even the subtle uptick in crime. The end-of-year holiday season, meant to be a time of joy and connection, often feels like a gauntlet of anxiety, obligations, and unrealistic expectations.

Read the full blog post at: https://rochellebrandon.com/blog/

[monriatitans]

The image was made in Canva; check it out at the [referral] link here!

How the "Hundred-Dollar Holiday" changed my perspective on gift-giving.

Saturday, October 19, 2024 How the “Hundred-Dollar Holiday” changed my perspective on gift-giving. Where I Learned ABOUT the “Hundred-Dollar Holiday” “Refreshing in its honesty and reliable in its guidance . . . a charming, inspirational…

[icecreamnstickyfingers]

How to Cope With Holiday Stress

[bayridgecounselling]

How Can We Cope With the Stress and Expectations of the Season?

Introducing an Exciting Collaboration: Bayridge Counselling Joins Forces with Lite 92.1 FM for ‘Human STRONG’!

Get ready for a powerful weekly conversation that dives deep into the everyday challenges that shape us, uplift us, and propel us forward in our roles as individuals, parents, and partners read more here

[fittonichubs]

Coping with Holiday Stress: The Connection Between Food and Mood

The holiday season is often associated with joy, celebration, and togetherness. However, it can also bring about a significant amount of stress for many individuals. From hectic schedules and financial pressures to family obligations, the holidays can take a toll on our mental well-being. Interestingly, the relationship between stress and eating habits is a powerful one, often leading to either…

[navarrotherapy]

Why am I always SAD during the holidays?

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[bluewidowchronicles]

Beat the Blues During The Holiday Season:

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[writerrsj]

It's been a while, but I'm back with a blog post! 😁

[peacefulmamalife]

9 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy the Holiday Season

Hey Mama,  It’s the most wonderful time of year again.  Parties, Shopping, Gifts, Family, and Cooking. All on top of our very busy schedules.  It can be such a beautiful time of the year, but for so many of us we are just running on autopilot, stressed because we don’t know what to buy for our Mother-in-Law. Instead of the traditional chaos, let's slow down this holiday season.

The Overwhelming Holiday Rush: Accepting every invitation and constant busyness  is a recipe for burnout for you and your children. It’s too much and you often end up not even enjoying that holiday photo shoot and stroll you so meticulously planned for your family.  Every single year, I get caught up in the: what do I need to buy, meal prep, cookie making, planning fun family outings, and finding time to get to that pile of laundry that has been sitting there for two weeks.  From Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve it feels like we are running around everywhere and not enjoying much of it.  In previous years, I was more stressed about wrapping gifts quickly. I declined my toddler's offer to help. Causing a tantrum and me to get annoyed that I “just can’t get this done”. 

Why it’s important to slow down this season

The Christmas excitement speeds up life. Yet, amidst all this holidaying madness, there is something very important about slowing down. Here are strong reasons why it is crucial for us to hit the brakes at this time: - Maintaining Your Health: When every holiday season is a race, it usually comes with heightened stress that can harm your mental and physical health. Taking time to slow down and embrace moments of peace can significantly contribute to your overall well-being. - Quality Not Quantity: Having a full plate during holidays sometimes tempts you to choose quantity over quality as you rush through the rituals and gatherings without appreciating them truly. Slowing down will help one appreciate every single moment and will thus foster an even deeper connection with loved ones. - Reduce Overwhelm: The hustle and bustle of the season can be overwhelming for even the most organized individuals. Slowing down breaks the cycle of overcommitment that can allow you to focus on what really matters in life thereby reducing stress and overwhelm. - Mindful Enjoyment: Often rushing from one task to another, we have missed much of what makes the season special. Slowing down gives us an opportunity for engaging in mindful enjoyment; it means taking in the sights, sounds, and experiences that make these holidays special. - Positive Role Models: By slowing down during holiday seasons as parents, we set a positive example for our children. It teaches them the value of mindful living, emphasizing on cherishing moments and finding joy in simplicity. - Strengthen Bonds: Going through holiday events at breakneck speed can prevent meaningful connections from being established among people. However, when everything else slows down deeper interactions occur that result in stronger bonds between family members and friends that are etched into their collective memory forever. - Developing Gratitude: When we slow down enough to be present here now gratitude finds a welcome home. It also enables you to realize how blessed you are, hence fostering contentment.  Like when your toddler wraps a gift and is filled with pride on her skill. Or your kids dancing around the living room to “Jingle Bell Rock” Sit and let those giggles and smiles fill your heart. Really feel it. I know this can be easier said than done, but with a little practice it will become easier and part of your life. If you need a little more convincing…

Holiday Rush affects your children. 

Children can get stressed out because of the many activities, change in routines, heightened emotions and general hustle and bustle during this period. It is important to understand how these festivities can affect our young ones despite being moments of happiness. Ever wonder why your child seems miserable at the tree lighting festival?  Why holidays may be stressful for your children: - Disrupted Routine: Children are usually creatures of habit and they need routine in their lives. The festive season often disrupts their usual schedules including bedtime, meal times and play times. This sudden alteration might make them feel uneasy or anxious. - Overstimulation: Festive seasons come with lots of sights, sounds and things to do. These can be interesting but at times too much for young minds to handle. Full shopping malls, loud parties and excessive decorations could cause children’s minds to overwork thus leading them into feeling tired or stressed. - Increased Expectations: Holidays may be heavy on kids shoulders. Expectations about receiving gifts or taking part in festivities as well as fulfilling family expectations put pressures on them. - Emotional Rollercoaster: Children experience various emotions during the festive season. There might be happiness, joy as well as frustration, disappointment or even sadness especially if things do not go as planned or there changes family dynamics at such a time. - Limited Downtime: Younger people also need time to relax just like adults. Due to this overloaded schedule for holidays, children may fail to get enough time for rest and rejuvenation that increases stress levels among them. Ready to slow down this holiday season? 

 9 ways to reduce holiday stress and slow down during the holidays: 

- Only say yes to the invitations that you really want to attend or feel that are the most important. If saying “No” directly to the person, offer up an alternative. “I cannot make it to your ugly sweater party this year but would love to grab a cup of coffee during the week to catch up”.  - Make a list of all your holiday traditions. Highlight the ones you actually enjoy as a family and toss the rest. - Delegate. Let your spouse take on some of the shopping, let your children help you wrap gifts, and pick a day that you all clean the house together. I do my best to delegate house chores to help reduce my mental load. My 5 and 2 year old empty the dishwasher. Is everything in its perfect place? No, but it gives me a few moments to get our breakfast together.  - Avoid the family gossip at large gatherings. Simply walk away. It really only creates more stress for you, especially if you are worried that your uncle is making a bad investment on his girlfriend’s new business. Think about whether their decisions and actions are going to affect your everyday life. Or is it just  gossip? - Self-Care. This doesn't have to mean booking a weekly massage or taking bubble baths. What can you do during your day that lights you up? Take a few moments to sing a song, dance, paint, yoga. Anything to unwind. Check out my 5 minutes guided meditations here. - Simplify your Christmas Decor. Take out only what you really love and display it. - Loosen up on your expectations. Do you all really want to do that photo shoot for your holiday card? Or could you simplify and create a collage from your memories this year? I'll be selecting a few photos from our camping trips over the summer to put on our cards this year. - Simple Gift Giving. I do my best to stick with the 4-gift theme for my kids. Something they need, wear, read, and want. For family, I typically stick with a theme. One year I purchased wine from a local winery and everyone also got new mittens and scarfs. It simplified the whole process and were gifts that people appreciated. - Just Breathe! You don't have to sit down for a 50-minute breathwork practice. Just take a few moments in your day to notice your breath. I guided you through a short practice on my podcast episode Read the full article

[willdailey]

Somebody has to tell the children. There’s a lot to explain.

Holiday Collect 2023 comes out thanksgiving day because that is the most insane time to try to get the attention of your ears and i like those odds. This years addition is titled: “More love than myth (tell the children)” - it will all make sense soon!

[lovereconthings]

Managing Relationship Stress During The Holidays

Managing Relationship Stress During The Holidays

Neighborhoods are beginning to twinkle with holiday lights for Christmas. Christmas trees appear everywhere you look. Peace, love, and joy fill the atmosphere with one exception – your home. Unfortunately, stress is beginning to build, and with that comes the inevitable conflict. Relationships suffer, and loving feelings are scarce. Disputes over where to spend the holidays, which traditions to uphold, how much to spend on gifts, and the stress of shopping, even online, take the "ho-ho-ho" out of the season. So how can you be proactive and minimize the stress and damage the holidays bring?

Plan and establish traditions.

Traditions create connection, security, and intimacy in who you are as a couple and as a family. These are important for establishing your

identity as a separate family unit. Each person brings their own family culture and traditions to the relationship. That is likely to include traditions centered around the holidays. However, expecting to bring those traditions into the marriage can create conflict when those traditions and rituals clash. Have a conversation about which traditions from your family of origin are most meaningful to you. If you each could choose one tradition, which would it be? Include your best and worst holiday experiences and how to avoid repeating them in the discussion. What holiday experience have you both enjoyed together, and is it feasible to repeat it each year?

Manage the triggers of you and your spouse.

For various reasons, the holidays can be difficult for many people. If a loved one who played a significant role in your life has recently passed, the holidays can magnify the loss. If this is the case, change your holiday routines and perhaps establish some new traditions that don’t spotlight the absence of your deceased loved one. For example, instead of Christmas dinner at the dining table where the loved one occupied a particular chair, have a Christmas brunch buffet and sit anywhere you want in the family room. You can also talk with your spouse and children about ways to remember and honor the person who has passed away. Music, lights, events, people, sounds, smells, food, alcohol, etc., can all trigger painful memories. Do your best to understand these triggers in you and your spouse and avoid them when possible. If avoiding them is impossible, plan how to help each other when either of you is triggered. Sometimes even just lowering your expectations for the holidays can help. It's often the moments when you're most trying to make the holiday perfect for someone else that you end up steamrolling over your spouse's emotions.

Practice damage control

If you and your spouse have the same argument or a negative pattern of relating to one another every holiday season, take some time to plan to minimize the effects. Plan how you will approach the argument or sensitive areas. Identify what triggers are involved for either or both of you. Talk about how you each feel about each area and make suggestions on how you would prefer to handle it. Seek to understand your spouse's perspective and feelings first. Practice empathy. Compromise. Negotiate. Go for the win-win solution. Nobody wins if somebody loses. If one of you loses, you both lose! It's practicing conflict resolution ahead of time so that your holiday spirit doesn't dampen or dissolve entirely.

Have fun together, apart from others.

Sure, the holidays are about family, travel to be with family, office parties, children's activities and programs, travel, etc., but don't neglect each other. In particular, carve out the time to grant yourselves a reprieve from the frenzy and focus on each other. Spend a day in bed or on the couch watching Christmas movies and drinking hot chocolate or wine. See Christmas lights. Rate each house and choose your mutual favorite. The internet is full of ideas if you need help. Many of them are inexpensive or low-cost.

 Make a mutually agreed upon budget.

It is so easy to overspend in the season of giving. But so many fights and misunderstandings can be avoided if you will take the time to make a budget for the holidays. Be sure to include not only gifts but an increase in food costs and decorations. Regarding gifts, talk about how much you would like to spend for your children, family members, teachers, friends, etc. Be sure to include some for unforeseen gifts, just in case.

Give of yourselves- together.

Volunteer for a worthy cause with your spouse. Help to provide blankets, gloves, and coats for the homeless. Help to host a Christmas party for children in an impoverished area. Don’t pass by a Salvation Army bell ringer without donating in their bucket. Find out the opportunities in your area and involve the kids if appropriate. Many churches have options for serving those in need.   A more profound sense of gratitude and appreciation for your blessings will grow from your participation. Giving of time, self, and material resources celebrates "the reason for the season" in the best way.   There's no way to avoid the stress of the holidays altogether; however, the season can be enjoyed and celebrated with proactive conversations and planning. If you would like to discuss how we can help you and your relationship, don't hesitate to contact me at Cliff@LoveRecon.org or call 866-218-1716. You may also visit our website, www.LoveRecon.org, for testimonials and information. Read the full article

[spearsbrandonbooks]

Pecked to Death and Six Geese A-Laying are #1 and #2 on Amazon

Woo Hoo!! My books Pecked to Death and Six Geese A-Laying are #1 and #2 on Amazon Best Sellers in Stress Management!!! They are FREE on Kindle today. Get your copies today

[drshapero]

Blessings to you and your family. May you have a joyous holiday. . . . . . . . . . #Drshapero #PremierHealthCare #sanclemente #danapoint #sanjuancapistrano #lagunabeach #lagunaniguel #holidaystress #feelgood #healthylifestyle #happyholidays (at Premier Health Care Wellness & Chiropractic) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmml-gMPDn4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sphere-mind]

Understanding Holiday Depression: Causes and Solutions

Explore how holiday stress, loneliness, and grief can affect mental health during Christmas, and discover supportive strategies for a joyful season.