Secrets to a stress-free holiday
Experts reveal the calming words to carry you through any December difficulties
Has ’tis-the-season hustling left you feeling more meh than merry? You’re not alone: Between lack of time, gift-giving and the challenges of maintaining healthy habits, some 90 percent of women say they feel stressed during this time of year.
But holiday happiness is easier to achieve than you might think. The secret? Experts say it’s all about shifting what you say to yourself in stressful situations: “The brain is very flexible, so talking to yourself in a kinder way not only creates healthier feelings and behaviors but it quite literally changes your brain’s chemistry,” explains
Sara Mattis, Ph.D., a psychologist in Winchester, Massachusetts, who uses self-talk strategies with her clients. “A positive cycle gets set up where more serotonin is available in the brain, creating feelings of well-being and making it easier to cope with challenges.”
And stockpiling a few positive phrases to say out loud or in your mind when you’re sitting in mall traffic or juggling work and social commitments can make all the difference between feeling festive or frazzled. “It’s very empowering: You may not be able to control the situation, but you can control how you’re thinking about it,” asserts Mattis. “When we can have calm and nurturing thoughts, we can remain centered and access a place of peace within us, regardless of what is going on around us.”
FIRST asked the pros for their go-to affirmations for common seasonal challenges. Read on to discover the soothing saying that will help you channel peace and joy when you need it most.