Wellness Coach Offers Iowans Ways to Destress their Holidays

While many people are singing “Joy to the World,” the holidays can be a stressful time for Iowans.

Christie Harris, a wellness education specialist at Emplify Health by Gundersen, says one of the best ways to reduce stress is to take control of your schedule and avoid putting too much pressure on yourself.

“If we can set out with just remembering what the real meaning of the holidays are about, and not going into this with the idea that everything has to be perfect,” Harris says, “it really helps to alleviate a lot of the stress and the aggravations that we tend to put on ourselves.”

Harris says trying to do too much in too little time can make the season overwhelming, and she encourages people to step back rather than becoming their own worst enemy.

Even holiday traditions like sending Christmas cards can add unnecessary stress.

“There are so many things that I think we put pressure on ourselves to do because it’s the tradition, or it’s what we’ve always done, or it’s what other people do, so we feel like that’s what we need to do as well,” Harris says. “Christmas cards are a great example. If Christmas isn’t a great time and you really feel like you need to do cards, maybe you do them at the beginning of the year and say, ‘Hey, happy New Year.’”

Harris also suggests talking with family members ahead of time, planning trips carefully, and not trying to do everything.

“Let folks know what your expectations are, what your plans are, and then one of the things that we can do is not allow guilt to play a part,” she says. “Lots of people want to share their time with us during the holidays, and we need to remember, first and foremost, you need to do what’s best for you and what’s best for your family.”

Harris says the key message is to be kind to yourself, do what you can, and let go of unrealistic expectations.

Emplify Health by Gundersen has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.