Don?t let holiday stress complicate your life, work

When I worked in a corporate office, I always started the holiday season with a wonderful sense of anticipation. I re-member feeling this especially strongly at two companies.

At The Disney Store (I was a corporate recruiter), the company went all out. In the lobby, there was a huge display with all the favorite cartoon characters dressed to sing Christmas carols. They also had a huge holiday party with dancing, great food and Mickey in attendance. It was magical.

The other place was Nestle USA, where I was on a year-long consulting assignment.

They had a massive lobby with a big tree and carol music. Of course, there was chocolate everywhere.

After about two weeks, the magic began to fade, and by Jan. 1, I was ready to rip the wreaths down.

Looking back, I can see that I brought a lot of my angst on myself. Here are a few tips to help you through the cheer with cheer:

Take care of yourself physically. First, exercise. This is especially important if you normally exercise but have a tendency to slack off during the holidays. There is always the excuse of weather not! Join a club or walk in the mall. Get that blood pumping and help release those feel-good endorphins in your brain. Exercise will help you relieve holiday stress as well.

Don't pig out. This is probably the hardest stricture of all. Perhaps this should be worded: "Don't pig out every day."

A rationalization sets in during the holidays as we reach for the dip during the office potluck. A lie rears its ugly head as we gobble down the homemade fudge sitting near the copier. "It's Christmas." No it isn't. It's Christmas on Dec. 25. That is one day.

If you eat a Christmas dinner and Christmas snacks every day for a month, two things will happen: You will feel lousy and you will gain weight. Studies have shown that sugar actually lowers the immune system, so you may be sick, as well.

The holiday season often corresponds with the flu season. Make sure you take precautions such as getting a flu shot, washing your hands often and using a disinfectant on the phone.

Please, please do not go to parties or other gatherings if you feel sick. Your host or hostess would much rather you take care of yourself at home rather than infect everyone.

My old boss was a stickler for attendance. He dragged himself into the office sick or well. Fever or no.

Consequently, he infected the whole office and made himself sicker. One time, he had to be hospitalized because he became so dehydrated after trying to work with a 100-degree temperature. He was so disagreeable about people missing work (even when they had legitimate sick days) that our office was a medieval pest house in the winter. Wash your hands. A lot.

Take some oxygen for yourself. The holidays have a tendency to become a marathon between work, shopping, cards, parties and social obligations. Sometimes there is break for church, but often people head for the mall immediately afterwards.

Ask yourself what the holiday means to you, and make a list of three things that you would like to do this Christmas as a gift to yourself.

Here's my list:

Go out to a special Christmas tea with a good friend.

Have a romantic dinner in a place that "feels" like Christmas. Our favorite is the Chateau on the Lake.

Get a pedicure.

Don't let the holiday stress bleed into your work. This is one of those steps which are much easier said than done. With self-imposed deadlines, it is easy to order gifts over the Internet, shop at lunch and write cards during breaks. The problem is that these tasks, squeezed into a business day, give no time for breathers from work. Between the heavy doses of sugary holiday treats and no breaks, work feels even more like a burden.

All of the stress may impact your productivity, as well. The economy in Springfield may be stronger than in many areas of the country, but in a recession, no job is safe. If you are paid for a month's work, you need to put in a month's work.

This is not to say that all the festivities can't be enjoyed, even at work. They can and should be.

They do need to be compartmentalized, however. The joy should be experienced without letting the stress overshadow your December!

(Sinara Stull O'Donnell is a writer and professional speaker in the career arena through her company Sinara Speaks.)