I just ran into a friend of mine at the supermarket. She seemed stressed. Her cart was overflowing with goodies and she started to tell me about her overbooked schedule and her list of holiday chores to accomplish which included holiday gifts for multiple teachers. My friend, who is one of the most gracious women I know, has four children and a lot going on. On the outside she looks as if she has everything under control; her home is lovely, her children are well mannered, her husband is a nice guy, and she is always willing to help others. On the inside she is really missing her mom who passed away a few years ago.
The holiday season is magical for many, especially the children, and stressful for so many others. Family events, financial challenges and too much to do often adds to the stress. Women, who tend to do most of the shopping, cooking, decorating, gift wrapping, and card sending, get hit really hard during the season.
A few months ago, I had the privilege of speaking to 50 Emergency Room physicians about Improving Patient Satisfaction. I asked the physicians how they manage their own stress. For those of you not in the healthcare field, stress can lead to physician burnout. The top four answers were:
Exercise
Get a good night’s rest
Take care of each other, and
Take a break from work
As we move into the holiday season, I want to remind you to take good care of yourself and say no to activities that won’t bring you joy! The holiday season can be a wonderful time to enjoy each other and count your blessings.
Happy Holidays!