An Overlooked Strategy For Reducing Holiday Stress

The busyness of the holidays can make your stress levels soar. With only 20 days left until Christmas, here are just a few of the things you may need to get done:

• Decorating your home (inside & out), including buying a Christmas tree and hanging Christmas lights.
• Shopping for holiday food items, menu planning.
• Baking cookies and special treats.
• Shopping for presents; Trying to find a parking place.
• Searching for just the right presents.
• Dinners & holiday parties to go to.
• Special programs: pageants, church services & school concerts.
• Christmas cards to write and send.
• Packages to mail.
• Talking with family and friends on the phone.
• Getting the house ready for company.
• Holiday travel & arrangements to make.

Does this list cause you to feel stressed?  In the next 20 days, you may not have much time for exercise or relaxation.  You need a method of quickly reducing your stress that doesn’t take a lot of time.

In my own life, I have found prayer to be very helpful for reducing stress.  I pray quick short prayers throughout the day.  I often ask God for strength and patience.  I pray for my family and friends. I try to remember to thank God for blessings, both large and small.  I’ve found that prayer really improves my attitude.  I feel more at peace and I look at things from a bigger perspective.  How about you? Has prayer helped you deal with stress?