How to deal with holiday stress

November 2006

Thanksgiving is around the corner and Christmas, Hannukah and Kwaanza are barely a month away. As you shop, decorate, cook and try to get it all done in time, keep in mind that your stress level is bound to rise. Today, Nurse Rona Renner, host of the radio show Childhood Matters and the new parenting expert for the Bay Area Discovery Museum, suggests some ways to de-stress and yell less this holiday season.

Q. I’m not usually a yeller, but I find myself raising my voice to my kids a lot more  lately. Any advice?

A. We all know how it feels when there are too many demands on our time.  And a houseful of relatives, high expectations and kids underfoot are just about the best ingredients I know for holiday yelling. 

When you’re on edge — feeling tired, hungry and overworked — it’s all too easy to take it out on the kids.  While stress is a natural reaction to physical and emotional pressures, there are healthy ways to deal with frustration or anger that can make a big difference to your family:

• Evaluate – and prioritize — your schedule.  Figure out what’s most important to you.  It’s okay to cut out some activities and give yourself some “down time,” even during the holidays.

• Get enough rest!  Sleep helps you stay healthy and feel re-energized.

• Get regular exercise.  Taking a walk, riding your bike, even doing something silly like dancing in the living room with your kids can help you relax – and connect with your children at the same time.

• Eat well and don’t skip meals.  Think how crabby your kids get before dinnertime; parents are susceptible to that same lack of patience when their blood sugar gets low.

• Give your kids warning.  Transitions can be difficult for many kids.  Whether you’re trying to get your kids to leave the house to go to school or just switch from watching television to eating dinner, let them know what’s coming next so they can prepare themselves. 

• Try something different.  If what you’re doing isn’t working with your kids, change your approach.  Try whispering instead of yelling or make eye contact rather than shouting from another room. 

If you do find yourself getting more irritated at this time of year, realize you’re not alone.  Take a deep breath, be easy on yourself and keep in mind the things you value, like connecting with family and friends.

Rona Renner, RN, is host of the weekly radio show Childhood Matters, which airs every Sunday from 9-10 AM on 98.1 KISS-FM.  Do you have a question about parenting?  Send it to asknurserona(at)badm.org.  Next month, we’ll talk about creating family traditions.