Obviously I'm not a poet or I could have done something clever here, but if you're looking at this site because you have a headache, you might not appreciate my efforts anyway. The point is - the holidays that are supposed to make us all so happy usually end up giving us a gigantic headache.
Not only that, New Year's Eve is coming up in less than a week. What's a person to do?
First, watch the caffeine and alcohol and the amount you eat, and avoid anything you've learned over the years is a certain trigger for headaches. It just isn't worth the momentary pleasure you might get from it. Don't take sleeping pills. If you toss and turn, you'll be better off, as far as headaches are concerned, if you have a cup of herbal tea, find something relaxing to read (no thrillers!), or soak in a hot tub.
A stress reducer that may work for you is to find a comfortable place where you can sit in silence for 10-20 minutes. Close your eyes, breathe deeply from the diaphragm, and repeat a calming word or phrase in your mind. "Serenity" is my favorite word; it's become my mantra.
It's difficult at first to shut out all the thoughts, especially when you have a huge list of things to do, but keep trying. Mentally picture a waterfall, or some other relaxing scene. I think of the surf hitting the rocks on the coast of Maine.
Speaking of lists, making a list of things you need to do can help keep you from mentally going over and over them until you drive yourself crazy trying to remember it all. Even if you lose the list, just the act of writing it down can help block out the merry-go-round.
I know there's no way to avoid all stress during the holidays, but one thing you can do is cut yourself some slack. Do not try to do everything. Which brings me to a little holiday story.
My husband and I invited my parents to be with us on our first Christmas 25 years ago. They drove up to our home in Maine from Connecticut. I had shopped and cleaned and baked, and I was determined everything would be perfect.
I had gotten myself so wound up, in fact, I was shaking. Rather than go out and buy all new ornaments, we just bought lights and I decreed that each of us would buy an ornament that meant something special for that particular year. Through the years since we've accumulated a nice collection of ornaments that bring back special memories, even thouh my parents never did catch on and just bought Hallmark ornaments with the year inscribed on them. My husband always makes something or buys an appropriate ornament. That's why we have a seagull on the top of the tree instead of a star or an angel.
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