Survival Tips for Stress During the Holidays

Thanksgiving, exams, final papers, Hanukkah, Christmas, family outings, holiday programs, and more. This time of year seems so crazy! If stress is starting to creep into your life, use these simple tips to stay relaxed and enjoy the holidays!

• Keep your exercise routine as normal as possible. If you don’t have one, try to do something!  Exercise is one of the first things to let go when you’re stressed, but it’s also one of the most important ways to keep stress at bay. Not only does it release natural stress reducing chemicals but it’s good for you!
• Map out your key priorities. Don’t feel like you need to get everything done at once. Write down what you need to accomplish this month, then break down the list into weeks. This will help you attack your to-do list in small pieces.
• Do you have a friend who seems to have it all together? Ask her for her best tips!
• Watch what you’re eating. Holiday food is awesome, but too much junk will weigh you down and make you less productive. Make moderation your mantra! You can enjoy the goodies, just not tons at a time.
• Don’t forget to schedule some fun! After you finish that term paper or take that test, go ice skating with friends, watch your favorite movie, or go to the mall to reward yourself. 

Do you have a survival tip you want to share? Email us at info@girlswithdreams.com and we’ll post your tips!

Helping Out a Friend

Just the other day, I found out a friend of mine was a rape victim. I was so shocked. I was scared for her and realized she needed me. Talking to her was hard, but I learned a lot about being a good friend and how I could help her.

Be there for her. Nothing is worse than having something you need to talk about and not having anyone to talk to. If your friend needs you, put aside your social calendar for a couple hours and talk to her. Make sure she knows you’ll be there in her time of need.

Let her talk to you. It might sound easy, but it’s actually really hard to just listen to someone. Don’t start talking about your bad day or the drama between you and your best friend. This is her time and she needs someone who can make the conversation all about her.

Be patient. Sometimes it takes a while for someone to open up, even if she’s your best friend. It took my friend a few days before she was able to talk to me. Even though we sat in silence for a few hours, I knew it would be worth the wait when she was able to talk. Don’t rush her and don’t ask a ton of questions. Wait for her to feel ready and secure enough to open up.

Ler her know it’s okay to cry. Whether it’s you crying, her crying, or the two of you together, crying is always okay. My friend was so conscious about shedding tears in front of me, and she had no reason to be. Crying is a form of release and can really help a person to relax a little.

Let her know it’s going to be okay. Yes, what happened to your friend may be overwhelming, but reassure her that everything will work out. Make sure she knows things will go back to normal eventually. Her world may be in pieces now, but with your help and the help of others, she’ll return to her every-day routines faster than she thinks.

What Does this Historic Moment Mean to You?

Even if you’re not yet old enough to vote, you can’t help but watch the history unfolding before our eyes. Some of you were McCain and Palin supporters, while others supported Barack and Biden. Political parties aside, one of the most important things to celebrate is that so many Americans came forward and participated in this historic election. Another important achievement worth celebrating is the fact that either candidate would have made history by winning.

Barack Obama’s victory has broken new ground. This moment has historic significance on so many levels. We are breaking down racism and barriers that have existed for generations. This moment gives way to new dreams, hopes and opportunities for so many because it proves that anything is possible! I hope it will inspire you to dream bigger for yourself, get involved in the world around you, and to live a bigger life!

A friend of mine from NYC was at Rockefeller Center and Times Square last night. She said the streets were filled with “a joyous pandemonium.” People everywhere were honking horns and yelling, “Yes, we can!”

What will your “Yes we can” be? For yourself? For our country? For the world? What do you want to dream bigger about and say yes to?

We’d love to post your responses! Share your thoughts at info@girlswithdreams.com