Creating new holiday traditions

Ever wish you could stop having the white elephant gift exchange or wish you had something planned after the holiday dinner? What would your holiday look like if you introduced some new traditions that were more meaningful to your family?

The holiday season may produce joy AND stress but St. Luke's Family Counselor Cynthia Vaske urges individuals to examine their holiday traditions determine what brings happiness and to possibly consider adopting some new traditions that may help relieve the season's stress and make the holidays healthy and happy.

Here are some tips from Vaske on maintaining your health during the holiday season:

• Don't overdo it be sure and give yourself some time to relax and enjoy the season.
• Enlist the help of others to get things done. Don't try to do everything.
• Establish priorities. Feel free to say ‘no' to some activities.
• Simplify your life. Consider relaxing your housekeeping and holiday preparations.
• Take time to exercise.
• Eat healthy foods and limit your consumption of high-fat holiday treats.

Modify your expectations for the holiday and consider creating some new traditions.

• Ask yourself if you really enjoy all the rituals that go with the holiday. Consider adopting less elaborate traditions of holidays past.

• Don't be afraid to scale down gift giving.
• If you are unable to be with your family, get out around people. Plan to be with friends or volunteer to help others who also may be separated from their families.