How to Combat Stress During the Holidays as a Bariatric Patient

Monday, 30 November 2009 08:40

The holidays are a prime time for stress overload, but they definitely don't have to be. Even though it feels like the time between Halloween and New Year's Day goes by on hyperspeed, taking the time to slow down, appreciate what the holidays are supposed to mean, and committing to keep your regular routine as normal as possible are the best ways to ensure that your holidays are not only stress-free, but are also full of memories.

Put Things in Perspective

The end of the year doesn't mean that this is the end of the world. It is only Christmas and New Year's. They are just days, not cataclysmic events determined to make your life unbearable. Do not add more importance to chores like gift shopping or meal planning just because they are for the holidays. Keep this in mind when you start to go into freakout mode.

Mind Over Matter

When it comes to the holidays, many people get stressed out because they expect to be stressed out. Just as the Rule of Attraction states in Rhonda Byrne's book The Secret, what you think or believe is going to happen WILL happen. If you are expecting stress and strife, this is what you will get. Tell yourself that you will stay on top of your bariatric well-being (diet, exercise) as well as your emotional well-being. Making the holidays less stressful just takes periods of organization, relaxation, and prioritization of yourself and what you need to accomplish in order to be successful.

Journaling

Keeping a journal can be a crucial aspect to staying relaxed and sane not only during the holidays, but all year round. Spending just 5 minutes before bed or in the morning before getting ready for the day to contemplate the day's events is a great way to reflect on your experiences. Journaling has been shown to reduce stress and increase self-awareness. Even just free-writing about a television show you enjoyed or a dream you had has benefits.

Exercise

Exercising regularly has been shown to greatly decrease stress as well. Making exercise a priority during the holidays (as well as year-round) means that you are also making yourself a priority. In addition, exercising may also help stave off the effects of the types of food that is usually consumed during the holidays. Remember, it is possible for even weight loss surgery patients to regain weight they've lost, especially as more time lapses since they had their bariatric procedure.

Plan Ahead

This is the most important part of having a stress-free holiday season as a bariatric post-surgery patient. Plan all your meals ahead of time if possible and create to-do lists for everything: use Google calendar (http://www.google.com/calendar) if you have a Gmail account to create task lists and daily agenda reminders that can be sent to your inbox every morning. And finally, before going to the store or shopping mall to buy holiday meal ingredients or presents for loved ones, write down everything you need in order to make these trips as efficient as possible. Taking a few minutes each day to prepare and stay organized will help make the holidays less stressful for everyone involved.