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WHAT'S NEW
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30 days of holiday stress relief
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The countdown starts on December 1st and takes you all the way to New Years Resolutions stress-free.
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By Dayna Boyer, with files from Helen Keeler and Karen von Hahn
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Your level of stress can determine whether the holidays become a hair-pulling, teeth-grinding experience or a wonderful time spent relaxing and appreciating loved ones. This 30-day countdown of stress busters will help put you in tune with your body and emotions and help you to conquer the stressors in your life. Give yourself the greatest gift of all this season -- the gift of a stress-free holiday.
Dec. 1: Give your expectations a reality check and go easy on yourself. Set priorities, plan and delegate. Make a holiday to-do list and a timeline. Treat yourself to a night at home and a soak in the tub. Try to fit in some exercise as it releases endorphins and helps lower blood pressure, or meditate.
Dec. 2: Pace yourself. If you can't avoid an overly full schedule one day, ease up the next. Get a good night's sleep. Get your fill of veggies and high-quality protein foods (nuts, beans and fish). Stay in one night and treat yourself to a healthy home-cooked meal and hit the sack early.
Dec. 3: Get walking. Turn your myriad trips to the mall into mini workouts. Arrive early and walk around the mall where you can window shop looking for bargains and gift ideas. Depending on your weight, walking at a moderate pace can burn 100 to 200 calories in 30 minutes, which means you can burn off the equivalent of two oatmeal cookies if you stride around the mall before the stores open.
(December 1-3 by Helen Keeler)
Dec. 5: Make the most of all that snow by working out on the slopes. Not only will it release good-for-you endorphins, but it also creates a great opportunity to bond with family and friends while on the ski lift or cuddled up by a roaring fire.
Dec. 6: Get enough sleep. Sleep and stress go hand-in-hand. Without enough sleep you may find it harder to deal with stress and stress may be keeping you from getting a good night's rest. Click here for five steps to help you get the quality sleep you need.
Dec. 7: Plan parties in advance. Our advice for the holiday hostess: don't wait until the last-minute to do party prep work. Many hostessing chores can be done days before a party so you can take the load off during the day of the event.
Dec. 8: Take time to enjoy a good book. Whether you're reading your book club's latest pick or you're sitting down to savour that classic you never got around to reading, getting cozy with a novel can help to take your mind off your to-do list so you can return to holiday planning reenergized.
Dec. 9: Visit with friends. There's nothing more energizing than a good chat with a few close friends. So make a coffee date with a few girlfriends or just pick up the phone for some instant stress relief.
Dec. 10: Don't forget a little romance. Studies show that sex relieves stress so get in the mood by reviving the romance in your relationship.
Dec. 11: Learn to delegate. Even one other person helping you out can lighten the workload, so take advantage of any partners, siblings, or children milling around and put them to work.
Dec.12: Get your shopping done early. There's no need to wait for the mob of holiday shoppers to signify the start of your hunt for the perfect presents.
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