Are You Stressed or Excited about a New Year and Christmas Celebrations?

Are you stressed or calm?  Do you find the end of year, with Christmas holidays and a New Year dawning a fun or stressful time? Managing our stressors and seeing things differently is life is key to improving health, wealth, effectiveness, relationships and success in general. Moreover, have you wondered how often you say to yourself, “I’m stressed,” “I’m too busy” or “there is not enough time” at this time of the year, as everyone is preparing for their Festivities?

What happens next? Stress, headaches, arguments, relationship breakdowns, road fatalities, depression, loneliness, to name a few. Of course, on the flipside, there is connection, fun, sharing, joy, gratitude and giving. All of these are linked with this current festive season. So, are you stressed or excited?

For many people, this is a time of excitement, a well deserved break from a job, business or the normal routine of life. Furthermore, it often signals time for a holiday, re-connecting with family and friends and sharing fun times.While for others, it’s a time where people remember loved ones who are no longer here, days that were once happier and lonely times.

Are you stressed or excited at this time of the year?

So, whatever you are doing this festive season, spare a thought for everyone else. Moreover, here are a few things you can do:

• Slow down on the road.
• Do a random act of kindness.
• Wake up and think of three things you are grateful for in your life.
• Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of nature.
• Congratulate and celebrate your successes of the past year, big and small.
• Start planning and dreaming big for the new year.
• Most importantly have some fun and play time!
• Make a commitment for the new year to have some play time every week.

Science has proven the benefits of play which gives you the antidote when people say to you, are you stressed

Science has now proven the benefits of play in relation to the health of our brain. Furthermore, in the book “Play”, Dr Stuart Brown states that when we play we release dopamine, oxytocin and other reward chemicals. Moreover, other chemicals that are crucial for the regrowth of brain cells. Without this regrowth, it’s either use it or lose it! Play evolved millions of years ago when we were hunters and gatherers. It helps keep humans alive by bonding with each other in the wild!

Play is defined as:

“An activity you can do when interrupted is devoid of anger, impatience, or time pressures, such as playing as kids do, painting, gossiping, socialising, romance and anything that is fun and timeless creating a sense of bliss.”

Furthermore, Dr Stuart Brown says that a life or a culture devoid of a deficiency of play exists as a heightened major public health risk factor. The prevalence of depression, stress related diseases, violence and other health problems, can be linked to the prolonged deprivation of play.

If that sounds simple, well I guess it is! To ensure your success, happiness and fulfilment and of course, managing the festive season, please engage in play. Finally, it will ensure you start the New Year in a great state.

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