Unfortunately, being "busy" may cause us to stop doing the very things that help us handle stress -- regular exercise and a healthy diet. Under stress, our bodies produce high levels of cortisol and adrenaline, which can cause hormone imbalances, a rapid loss of nutrients, and reduced immunity. Physical exercise reroutes the adrenaline and halts the release of cortisol. Any type of exercise that you like or can do will help. Take a brisk walk around the block, do jumping jacks in your bedroom or have everyone dance in the living room to Christmas music. It will help the whole crowd! Decreasing the intake of certain unhealthy foods (many of which are convenient "fast foods" or sweet holiday favorites) and increasing the intake of specific healthy foods, can help replace nutrients

Symptoms of Stress

Learning to recognize the symptoms of stress is the first step in effectively managing it. Some signals that will alert you to excessive stress include:

 ●  Difficulty sleeping
 ●  Irritability or moodiness
 ●  Decreased satisfaction with tasks
 ●  Persistent feeling of urgency
 ●   Clammy and sweaty hands
 ●  Cold hands and feet
 ●  Tension headaches, backaches, stomach aches or other physical discomforts

You've probably heard it all before, but now may be a good time to revisit ways of relieving stress and decreasing isolation and loneliness, especially during the holidays.

 ●  Simplify and prioritize — Choose activities that are meaningful to you and let go of those that you do only because you feel obligated. Not being able to say "no" can also cause holiday overload and stress. It may be more difficult to tell someone no and to fend off feelings of guilt during the holidays than at other times, yet we have to  be able to keep our time commitments manageable.

 ●  Create reasonable expectations — Pace yourself. Doing too much often causes setbacks, which can lead to greater pain and depression.

 ●  Take time to care for yourself — Getting the right amount of sleep, eating healthy meals, doing your physical therapy exercises or gentle physical activity, practicing relaxation techniques (e.g., guided imagery and deep breathing) and avoiding too much alcohol can help you feel better and consequently help you enjoy those activities you choose to engage in.

 ●  Make time for fun.

 ●  Take a break from your normal routine during the day to ease tension.

 ●  Physical exercise or just a change of scenery, such as an evening at the movies, can help you relax.