by B.J. Armstrong

November woods are bare and still;
November days are clear and bright;
Each noon burns up the morning's chill,
The morning's snow is gone by night.
___  Helen Hunt Jackson

It's time for the holidays..Thanksgiving.. then Christmas. It may be a time of stress for you as you get ready for all the family gatherings. You don't need someone to tell you that stress isn't healthy for you, but you may need help in dealing with it. So, let us begin with breakfast. To have more energy and feel less stressed, start the day with fuel for the day. Even a bowl of cereal will make you feel better regardless of other health habits.

No matter how much you have to do to get ready for the holidays, get a good night's sleep. If anxiety keeps you from drifting off to sleep right away, don't stay in bed. Get out of bed and do something that relaxes you. If your brain keeps racing, make a list of things that you are thankful for. Get out a recipe

book and look at some dishes that you don't normally cook.

If you are keyed up over the holidays, your muscles can feel tense and sore. A massage loosens and helps you unwind and sleep better. Listening to peaceful

music can calm your nerves and ease muscle tension. Experts suggest giving classical music a try, even though it may not be your favorite style of music.

Get a paper and pencil and write your thoughts down. If you put your worries in writing, then it might help to sort things out and identify some possible solutions. After reading over what you have written down, this might help you to feel more in control of any stressful situation.

Sometimes you just need someone to help you sort things out. Counseling is a great way to get some

advice when anxiety and stress feel overwhelming. Talking with a sister, friend, neighbor or close family member will make you feel better, even if they just listen to you or you might not follow their advice.

Stress can really zap your energy and with up-coming holiday events, you need all the energy you can get. Just slow down, relax, and take a deep breath, literally. Under stress, most people tend to breathe high up in their chests, taking short, shallow, rapid breaths. But, slower deeper breathing can help

you settle down, calm and relaxed, you can think and act more sensibly. Breathe through your nose and slowly. With fewer breaths, your lungs don't have to work as much. Your heart rate will slow as well because it doesn't have to pump so hard to get oxygen throughout your body.

When you are stressed you can feel your heart pounding, your hands sweating, and your head throbbing. While all these sensations are unpleasant, there is a darker, more dangerous side to stress. When you are under stress, the anxiety can lead to high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and abnormal heart rhythms.

Stress can weaken your immune system, and leave you vulnerable to disease. The holidays are not a good time to be sick if it can be avoided. Some researchers think stress might even damage your body's ability to repair cells and lead to cancer.

You might not see anything funny about your hectic schedule at this time of year, but try to find the humor in each situation. A little chuckle will give you the opportunity to relieve a little tension. Experts say people who can laugh at difficulties deal better with stress and, as a result, suffer fewer health problems. If nothing else, rent a funny video and laugh until you cry.

"Cheerfulness is what greases the axles of the world.
  Some people go through life creaking."
____ H.W. Byles
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