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Stressing the holidays? Three nun-tested steps for stress reduction
Here at the convent, we love the energy of the holiday season – Christmas lights, gatherings with friends and co-workers, Christmas carols, lending a hand to others, and lots of other things that make the season festive. But even good things can be stressful sometimes. 
So today, we’re collecting ideas for how to keep stress in check and have a holy, wholesome, wholistic Christmas season. Here are three ideas that Sister Julie and I have personally nun-tested.
- Stay focused during prayer. Concentrating on one thing, like a scripture passage or an image from nature, is a good start to a day that’s going to be filled with lots of activity.
- Have a sense of humor. There’s a great saying that goes, “Life doesn’t disappoint us; our expectations do.” So when things don’t go as planned, we try to take it in stride and appreciate the adventure.
- Don’t worry about the little stuff. Attend to the big stuff, like relationships, and the rest will be okay too.
How do you keep stress in check over the holidays? We’d love to hear from you!
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Centering prayer is always a good way for me to de-stress. Of course sometimes getting to “the center” takes a few twists and turns but I get there in the end. These words from today’s first reading, Isaiah 45:22, says it all:
Turn to me and be safe,
all you ends of the earth,
for I am God; there is no other!
Happy snowy and cold Wednesday!
I’m with you on the centering prayer, Suze! Twists and turns — yeah, bring em on
Listening to prayer music such as Gregorian Chant, Taize, Gospel, hymns and of course, this time of year, Christmas Carols seem to keep me calm and happy.
Working at things I love. Needle work has always brought me pleasure. Something about the process of hand sewing is peaceful for me, whether I’m making needle lace, creating miniature teddy bears, or mending, it makes no difference. In fact mending is probably a more peaceful occupation as it requires no thought.
Reading when I have the time, is always a de stresser. As is a regular exercise practice. I like yoga.
Talking with the Great mystical unknowable Creator, especially as “the force” reveals itself in science. Incomprehensibly vast scale, each star that we can see, actually millions of galaxies. And infinitesimally minute, nuclei of atoms and on into the really tiny! “Infinity , and beyond”! Snowflakes, patterns of crystal perfection. The E Theory. The Big Bang theory, in which a particle so small it couldn’t be seen with our most powerful microscopes, expanded into the universe and everything in it including space, time and us.
And there’s always a soothing cup of tea.
I love the idea of sewing, and especially mending, as a peaceful activity. Also makes for a great metaphor!
The ergonomics specialist where I work installed a little program on everyone’s laptop that pops up every so many minutes and reminds us to take a stretch break. These little 5-minute (or less) exercises at the desk really do make a difference, especially for those of us who spend most of our days hunched over a computer.
Sometimes I go outside and just take a walk, but weather and darkness can intrude on that strategy, so if I’m home, I give myself 5-15 minutes of just sitting quietly, perhaps with a cup of tea, maybe watching some crafty or geeky TV show as a diversion.
Thing is, when I’m uptight, I am not available to anyone else, and that’s not good for anyone. Sometimes I knit, but that’s also a good defense against depression.
And in the wee, dark hours of the morning, when the world is just too much, I pray the rosary.