By Iris Farrou
08 Dec, 2022
Lifestyle Tips, Mental Health, New Moms, Parenting, Pregnancy, Queer Health, WNY Ob-Gyn News, Your baby's health
Baby's First, Chanukah, Children, Christmas, family time, Hanukkah, Holiday, holiday stress, Holidays with a Newborn, Kwanza, Mental Health, Newborn, Young Children
It is widely known that holidays are one of the most stressful times of the year– though toddlers and children seem to enjoy them, and there is a certain magic that comes with it all, we should remember this comes at the expense of parents, and especially mothers. Holiday stress increases if you have just welcomed a new member in your family, and are trying to juggle a newborn baby and holiday traditions. There is no simpler way to put it than: focus on you and your baby. As a new mother, this is honestly the only thing you should be worried about; keeping yourself and your baby healthy and safe. However, reality is not always ideal. Here are some tips that may help lessen the holiday stress if you are facing such an incredible combination:
- Change your expectations: you already knew your life would drastically change with a newborn, and if this happened into the holiday season there is no reason why this would be any different. We are creatures of habit and there is something comforting in having a decorated house, attending family gatherings, consuming holiday food, and participating in festivities. However, letting go of traditional expectations with a newborn during the holidays can significantly lessen your stress, and help you get through the season in a calm, and happy, manner. Nobody expects you to be the perfect hostess, or even guest, if you have just given birth– and you should not be expecting that of yourself either. Meals can wait, Christmas trees can become a simple wreath or a premade tree, but your baby’s first few weeks will not come back: savor that time with your family, and all else will come in due time.
- Simplify your days: to-do lists and preparations often become hectic around the holidays (more so than usual!). Remember, however, that this is not the time to go all out on Christmas decorations, gifts, meals, or anything else. If you feel like you have the energy for some of it, or if leaning into the holiday spirit will help you to feel less stressed, be selective with what you choose to put on your plate. Perhaps a short visit to the Christmas market this year is more manageable than standing long hours at the mall to see Santa– it may be more enjoyable, and leave you with some energy for the rest of the day. Or, you can have a family gift craft session at home instead of going out at all.
- Ask for help: isn’t helping others part of the holiday spirit? Why not take advantage of that now more than ever, and lean into your close family and friends to assist you in holiday activities, bring the festivities into your home or in a chill space, and help take care of you and your newborn? Select people you trust, set boundaries on how much or how little you can handle, and shape up those days in a design you can easily manage. Delegating responsibilities during this time is the best gift you can give to yourself, and you would be surprised how many people will be happy to offer their assistance in practical ways!
There are ways to embrace the holiday spirit and experience the magic of the festive season that don’t have to exhaust you; if you and your newborn are healthy and feel like you can manage a balance between traditional holiday activities and new ideas or reconfigurations, experiencing the magic in small ways will be extremely rewarding!
https://theeverymom.com/family-traditions-creative-new-ideas/
https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/childrens-health/could-holiday-stress-be-affecting-your-childs-holiday-joy
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By Iris Farrou
21 Dec, 2021
Mental Health
Best gyns in Buffalo, Best OB practices in Buffalo, Best OBGYN Groups in Buffalo, Buffalo OB-GYN, Buffalo OBGYN, Chouchani MD, Healthy holiday tips, holiday stress, WNY OB-GYN, WNY Ob-gyn doctors, WNY OBGYN, women's health
The holidays can be a relaxing and socializing time, but they can also be a time of holiday stress. Experts give us some tips on how to maintain healthy stress levels during this holiday season while keeping COVID safe and being mindful of our body’s health.
COVID Safety
As vaccination rates increase, you can likely choose if you are spending the holidays with vaccinated, COVID-safe individuals. Regardless, you should wash your hands often to prevent the spread of germs. Similarly, you should stay warm and bundled up to not jeopardize your immune system. You may let a little loose during the holidays, but remember smoking causes health risks. Last but not least, monitor children’s activity to see they are keeping safe and having a good time.
Body Health
Holiday living isn’t always friendly to healthy living, especially when it comes to diets and routines.
Here are some easy diet tips to practice this holiday season:
- Find healthy alternatives to your favorite dishes or substitute ingredients with their healthier counterparts. For example, use yogurt instead of mayonnaise, and bake instead of frying.
- Exercise moderation. No need to push your body past its limits when it comes to food and desserts. Keep your portions smaller if you want to extend your mealtime, or if you have several meals planned throughout the day. Avoid foods that upset you.
- Homemade foods instead of processed foods are a better idea. Canned, processed, and premade foods are full of salt and sugar that homemade foods usually don’t have.
- Adding more vegetables to traditional dishes or using vegetable-based recipes as side dishes is an easy way to eat your greens while enjoying holiday meals!
- Taking a walk after mealtimes can help your body digest. Research suggests it is best to take a walk directly after a meal to assist your digestion—and even get some alone time.
Managing Stress
The holiday season can come with heightened stress, or even depression. The demands are higher, financial stress is at play, and with guests around you may not get a moment to yourself. You may also be spending the holidays alone when you would like to have company or have recently lost a loved one.
Here are some tips to handle holiday-related stress:
- Acknowledge your feelings and express them. If you can’t talk to someone, you can write them down. Whether your feelings are positive or negative, it is important to not keep them bottled up.
- Reach out to friends, family, or the community. If you are feeling isolated and lonely or cannot (or don’t want to) reach out to friends and family, community events during the holiday season are an easy way to get some low-stakes socialization. Plenty of community programs organize more events around the holidays, and volunteering or participating is easy.
- Plan ahead and keep your habits, as sticking to a routine or a schedule you are familiar with can help minimize stress. Take agency over holiday plans and keep your limits.
Overall, remember to prioritize the things that make you happy! Avoiding over committing to events that cause stress or are more of an obligation. Spend the time with the people you love doing things you enjoy.
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The holiday season can be a wonderful time of the year to enjoy with your family and friends. The list of events often appears endless: work parties, school events, and big family dinners, to name a few. In between all the formal engagements comes shopping, cleaning, cooking, baking, planning, and scheduling. It’s easy to get lost in the details and miss actually enjoying yourself. Here are a few ways to keep calm this December.
- Slow down! While it’s easier said than done, especially with the aforementioned list of holiday duties, take time to enjoy yourself and your loved ones. Shift your focus from relying on drawing gratitude from material goods and work on loving the time you get to spend with your family. Look for ways to prioritize memories!
- It’s okay to say, no! With so much pressure to be a million places, buy a ton of gifts, and make endless batches of cookies and brownies, it can easily lead to exhaustion. Instead of agreeing to every holiday request, look for a way to balance the plans. Try to incorporate self-care into the mix. It’s okay to send bought cookies to your child’s school function and it’s okay to say no to events if you are already booked up.
- Find help by working with friends. When you can’t say no, look for ways to combine forces with a friend or another mom in the community. Odds are your friends, especially other moms, will also be stretched thin. Carpooling, baking parties, and holiday meal prep gatherings can help spread out your load.
- Look for ways to include your kiddos in the plans. While this is tricky with small children, kids five and up can certainly lend a hand. By being involved in the cooking, cleaning, and planning of the events, odds are the kids will feel more connected to it. Some ideas include having the kids make holiday cards, wrap presents, set the holiday table settings, or even come up with a holiday variety show act to entertain guests.
- Acknowledge your feelings. Most people feel moments of sadness around the holidays. Whether it’s sadness from a lost loved one, a break up, or even feelings of isolation or loneliness, it’s best to allow yourself to accept the feeling. It’s okay to take some time to be sad or to cry. Feel it and work to move on. If having trouble with the feelings, then reach out for help. Look for local social, religious, or community organizations that can help you deal with the emotion.
- Stick to a plan! One of the best ways to navigate the holidays is to plan your activities in advance. This will help you stay organized and be less stressed overall. While using a calendar to plan activities is a no brainer, also make lists of what needs to be done (cooking/shopping/cleaning) and lists of items you plan to purchase.
- Lastly, take a break! If you find yourself feeling stressed in the moment, try taking a 10- or 15-minute break to clear your mind. Some ideas include a crisp walk around the block to stargaze or look at the neighborhood lights, following a short yoga or guided meditation video online or on your phone, or even simply taking some time to sit in a quiet room with music on. Do your best to enjoy this wonderful time of year.
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It is widely known that holidays are one of the most stressful times of the year– though toddlers and children seem to enjoy them, and there is a certain magic that comes with it all, we should remember this comes at the expense of parents, and especially mothers. Holiday stress increases if you have just welcomed a new member in your family, and are trying to juggle a newborn baby and holiday traditions. There is no simpler way to put it than: focus on you and your baby. As a new mother, this is honestly the only thing you should be worried about; keeping yourself and your baby healthy and safe. However, reality is not always ideal. Here are some tips that may help lessen the holiday stress if you are facing such an incredible combination: 