Silver Cross: Managing Holiday Stress Starts by Being Good to Yourself
This is a busy time of year for Charles Murray, Wellness Coach at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.
He is talking to and coaching hundreds of Silver Cross employees as part of the health system’s overall wellness program. But this time of year, there are common themes – ones that millions in the general public share as well.
“With the holidays, there is stress, there can be grief; it can be overwhelming,” said Murray, a wellness coach at Silver Cross for the past nine years. He has coaching sessions by phone, averaging 25 to 30 minutes every half hour.
“What I try to do is treat them with kindness and help them get out of their own heads,” he explained. “Most of them have the answers; they just need someone to talk to to help bring that forward.
“The main thing I believe in is treating yourself with kindness. Often, we have negative thoughts. But I believe in having ‘anchor thoughts,’ good memories you can focus on to bring you out of your own head. Mine focus on trips to Florida and times with my children.”
Murray offers several tips to help with stress during the holidays:
Set realistic expectations and prioritize what matters most to you
Delegate tasks and use tools like apps to coordinate and organize
Learn to say “no” and find shortcuts when needed
Consider replacing time-consuming traditions with ones that fit your needs better
Avoid heated discussions during family gatherings and focus on getting along
Seek emotional support from friends, family or a therapist
To ease financial concerns, set a realistic budget and stick to it
Talk to children about financial limits and teach them about saving
Simplify your gift list and consider homemade or thoughtful gifts
Murray also suggests taking time to enjoy the holiday spirit and engage in activities that relax you, and prioritizing rest and exercise to maintain your health.
“We are all human. Challenge the negative thoughts with good ones. Be kind to your mind, and your body will follow,” he added.
Visit silvercross.org and click on the hospital’s Stay Well content hub. It’s chock full of articles about how to take charge of your health, and many of them are penned by Murray.
