. THE holiday season is
atime many of us look
forward to — some-
times with anticipa-

. tion, sometimes with

. dread.

According | to The
Canadian Mental Health
- Association’ (CMHA) the
-.~ holidays, for many, can mean
“extra: pressures:
_. Sions,) more financial bur-
- dens, more cleaning and dec-
‘“orating, more cooking, more
entertaining.

more deci-

When — children © are
involved, tensions are magni-
fied and if parents get frus-
trated and angry, then every-
one suffers.

Peace on Earth may seem
impossible if you don’t have
peace of mind.

The CMHA suggests that
some of the best ways to deal
with added stress around the
holiday season are common-
sense strategies.

Bev Gutray, executive
director: of CMHA’s BC
Division ays there are
things we know we can do to

help make our ‘season less
stressful. The key is making a
commitment to your mental
health and really putting
these strategies to work. The
CMHA ofters the following
suggestions:

@ plan ahead. If you're
entertaining, use the “keep it
simple” strategy. Try menus
you can make ahead of time
or at least partially prepare
and freeze. Decorate, cook,
shop, or whatever's on your
list in advance. Then you can
teally relax and enjoy visiting
friends, reiatives and co-

_ grome Houns

ments,

Or

HEALTH

ver ti

workers,

BW as much as possible, orga-
nize and delegate. Make a list
and check it twice. In many
families, moms do most of
the. Christmas preparations.
Have a “family meeting” and
make a commitment to care
about mom's mental health
and share tasks. Rather rhan
one person cooking the
whole family meal, ask differ-
ent family members | or
friends to bring a dish. Kids
can help with gift-wrapping,
decorating, baking, or
addressing cards.

B@ don’t overindulge. Having
a few too many glasses of
eggnog can dampen your
Christmas spirit since alcoho!
is a depressant. Also, too
much Christmas cake and
too little exercise will proba-
bly make you feel lethargic,
tired, and ‘guilty come
Boxing Day. Exercising as a
family to work out excess

“energy and stress is a great

activity to. schedule during
hectic weeks,

@ eliminate the unnecessary.
Don’t overextend yourself
with too. many commit-
Focus
what's really important to
you and your family. If it’s
hard to choose between so
many. fun activities, rotate
outings every two or three
years.

stay. within budget.

’ Finances are a great stressor.

Again, climinate the unnec-

_ essary. Seta budget, and stay
within it. A call,-a visit or a

note. to tell someone how
important they are to you

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on. doing —

jay SEaS

can be as touching and more
meaningful than a gift.

@ remember what the holi-
day season is about for you.
Make that your priority.
While holiday advertising
creates a picture that the hoi-
idays are about shiny new
toys and gift giving, remem-
ber thar this season is really
about sharing, loving and
time spent with family. and
loved ones. Develop: your
own meaningful family tradi-
tions that don’t have to cost
a lot of money.

# help others learn about
shared social responsibility.
Attend = diverse cultural
events with family. and
friends. Help out at 2 local
food bank or another com-
munity organization. Go
through closets and donate
old clothes and © toys.
Encourage children to make

gilts for friends and relatives _

so the focus is on. giving
rather than buying. Invite
others. If you have few fami-
ly or friends, reach out to

ncighbours. Find ways to

spend Christmas with other
people, even one other per-
son, so you don’t feel alone.
If you're part of a family
gathering, invite someone
you know ~is alone © at

: Christmas to your gathering. -- r E
through ‘community-based

@ vift-giving can be easier
and less expensive. Shop in
advance to avoid crowds or
ending up paying too much.

Wrap gifts as you buy them:

at a’ gift-wrapping spot in

your home. Put family mem- -
bers and partners’ names in a.
-hat-and buy one gift for the -

_ season.

person you draw. If vou find
that. your list of gitt recipi-
ents is becoming ever-grow-
ing, think of combined gifts
for people who live in the
same household. For exam-
ple, if you have a niece and a
nephew on your fist, maybe a
board game for both of them
would. be more convenient
and cost effective than sepa-
rate gifts. Put fun, humour,
affection, and “break : time”
into your holidays. Fun or
silly things to do, games or
movies that make you laugh,

. hugs, and time alone or with’

a partner are all good ways to-
reduce stress, |

Most of. all, help . each
other... Share ~ problems.
Trying to cope alone can
become overwhelming. Most: -
emotional problems occur:
for those who want to make
the holiday season perfect for - -
their. family but don’: have
the resources to meet those -
needs. 7

Talk things through with”

family “and ~ friends: and

remember that the most. °’

important priority is to have
peace of mind this holiday *

The CMHA. in’ BC. is’a.
voluntary association “which *
promotes the ‘menial health
of . all: British Columbians

programs, ‘ education, . and *~
information and research ser-° -
vices. Uh

*», CMHA ‘also: encourages -

public: ‘involvement | ~to..

“strengthen mental health ser-
- vices, policy development .-

and legislation. |”:

ganic and Natural Food Store

'- Effective Dates Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2000