The last quarter of the year can leave you exhausted if you aren’t careful. The time that you typically use for resting and recharging can quickly become filled with increased travel and social activities leading to decreased sleep and overall feeling of fatigue. This holiday fatigue can set you up for worsening depression or anxiety if you already suffer with those conditions.
It can also lead to irritability which can interfere with your social interactions, both personally and professionally. While you may not be able to totally slow down the hustle and bustle of the holidays, you can protect yourself from becoming fatigued to the point of impairment.
Here are 4 ways to get through the holidays in one piece.
You do not have to do everything. There are people that can help take some of the burden off you if you are one of those individuals who is notorious for having an “I’ll just do it myself” mentality. By allowing others to help, you just might have the opportunity to enjoy the moment instead of missing out on the experience because you are so busy with tasks.
If you have multiple events in a short time span, take a break when necessary. Take the long way between events to give you a moment to breathe, step away for a few minutes for a quick mindfulness moment, or take a nap between events to recharge. You can still enjoy the moments that matter even if you aren’t there for every minute.
“No” is a complete sentence but oftentimes we feel guilty about telling people no when they ask us to do something. This typically comes with a price that usually we pay. By saying yes too many times and overextending yourself, you set yourself up for some serious fatigue, both mentally and physically.
With everything going on this time of year, this is not the time to get less sleep at night. Poor sleep can affect your mood, focus, memory, and tolerance for stress. When these things are out of whack, your overall functioning can be impaired. Poor sleep also has a negative effect on your immune system and flu season is not the time to have a weakened immune system.
Actively working towards avoiding fatigue can not only protect you from any decline in functioning, it can also allow you to enjoy the moments that matter more. At the end of the season, you won’t remember how many cakes you baked or how many parties you went to but you will remember the quality time you spent with those who matter.
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