Holiday Shopping Surge Sparks Stress Management Tips Now

UPDATE: As holiday shopping kicks into high gear, experts are urgently advising on stress management techniques to help navigate the season’s pressures. Early this morning, eager shoppers lined up outside of Target in Fresno, California, hunting for deals, including discounted AirPods and Beats headphones.

While the holiday season is typically filled with joy, it can also bring significant stress. According to the American Psychiatric Association, last year, 28% of Americans reported heightened holiday-related stress, largely driven by challenges like gift buying, family dynamics, and grief.

Coraline Robinson, a licensed Family and Marriage Therapist at Balance Treatment Center, highlighted the importance of managing expectations during this time. “This can also be a time of really high expectations,” Robinson stated. “When we have high expectations, what happens? Well, they can only go down, right?”

Experts recommend several strategies to combat stress. “Taking a few deep breaths, finding a private room is really important when we’re under stress with our families,” Robinson advised. She also emphasized the benefits of physical activity: “We want to depress our nervous systems. We want to ramp it up so high with exercise that by the time we go into the event with our family or friends, we’re calm, we’re tired, and our nervous system is kind of worn out.”

Nutrition plays a critical role in stress management as well. Robinson urged people to monitor their food and drink intake, particularly alcohol and sugar, to maintain a balanced state of mind.

As the holiday shopping frenzy intensifies, Robinson cautioned against the overwhelming marketing barrage. “There’s going to be a lot of pushing, marketing, different things online right now,” she explained. “It’s good to take a break and lose yourself in an audiobook, in a podcast.”

Experts emphasize that it’s perfectly acceptable to step back from the holiday hustle and prioritize self-care. With the festive season now upon us, integrating these stress management techniques may help ensure a more enjoyable holiday experience for everyone involved.

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