The winter holidays can be especially stressful for everyone, and even worse for people with mental illnesses like bipolar disorder. Here are ten suggestions for coping with the stress of the Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa and New Year's holidays. Most of these tips are good year round, too! (Page 2)
9. Schedule at least 30 minutes of leisure time a day. If that sounds practically impossible, then you are working too hard. Even when you are under a tremendous amount of stress at work and/or at home, you will be amazed at what just 30 minutes of pure leisure time can do to help you de-stress and more easily cope with the rest of your life. I usually read a book for my 30 minutes, and I love losing myself in someone else's world for a little while. Just not thinking about everything that I have been worrying about all day helps me lower my stress level.
10. Once again, it is ok to say "No" when you are too stressed, too overcommitted, or just too overwhelmed to take on one more thing. "No, I can't bake cookies for the party." "No, I can't make the office party because my child's class is having their party the next morning and I'm the room mother." "No, I can't make it to church today; I'm just too tired and I need the sleep." It is ok to say no when you really can't do one more thing, and you don't even have to explain why if you don't want to. You are an adult and you can make your own decisions without having to justify them. Too often we let other people manipulate us into doing things that we really don't want to do, but we don't have to let things be that way. Your choices and your decisions are always your own.
