While the holidays are touted as a magical, special time of year, in reality most people have a difficult time enjoying the holidays due to stress. And never has that been truer than it is for USPS employees. It is the busiest time of year for mail and packages, and that can lead to many overwhelming feelings.
While you can’t stop the job from being stressful, there are ways you can fight back against the stress from your job and the holidays so you can actually take some time to enjoy them.
Changing your attitude is the biggest step you can take to manage holiday stress. This is because a lot of the stress felt during the holiday season is manufactured. Instead of thinking about the shopping you have to do, the food you have to cook, and the family you have to visit (all between your long hours at work), think about what makes the holidays magical. Think about the look on your friend’s and family’s faces when they open that gift. Think about time around the dinner table with family. When you do this, you bring positive images to your head, versus negative.
Stay healthy. It’s easy to skip the gym or break a diet during the holidays. We’re not saying you should skip a holiday event because it is normally your gym time, or stay away from the office holiday potluck, but be mindful of your health. Exercise reduces anxiety. Plus, if you regularly exercise healthy habits, dropping them can cause guilt and extra stress.
Let yourself say no. It can be hard to say no to plans when they are offered to you. We’re all guilty of checking our schedules, finding that yes, we have one single day free, and making plans with others. While being social can reduce stress, being too social can lead to you becoming overwhelmed, and can make your plans feel like a chore, instead of fun.
Stick to a budget. It’s very easy to go overboard during the holidays, but going overboard is going to add a lot of stress. Look at your finances and determine how much you can afford to spend on food, presents, and decorations. Your sister doesn’t “need” you to spend $100 on her. Making gifts is a great way to save money. If you stay on budget, worrying about paying your credit card bill won’t be in the back of your mind for the rest of the month.
Take some time to yourself to relax. This includes your friends, family, and significant other. Take a relaxing bath. Read a book. Go for a walk. Take some time to be alone with your thoughts and alone with an activity you enjoy. It allows your mind to settle and will help reduce that stress.
We understand how the stress of the holidays can pile up with the stress of your career. The USPS delivers millions of letters and packages, and it can be easy to get overwhelmed with the consumerism of the holiday. That only makes it more important to enjoy the things that really matter, which is time to enjoy yourself, and time with your loved ones.
Happy Holidays from all of us at MyPostalUniforms.com.
