Take Control Of Holiday Stress: How You Can Stay Calm And Enjoy The Season

 

It’s that time of year again. The weather gets a bit cooler and the stores rush to get their winter holiday decorations out. For many people, this signals a pang of anxiety, worry, and anticipation of the approaching holiday season.

 

If anyone knows the difficulty of managing stress it’s me. I was at a point where I was just responding automatically to my stress. To the point where these automatic responses took on a life of their own. 

 

This is especially true around the holiday season. The most joyous, wonderful time of the year doesn’t quite feel that way for many people.

 

Holiday stress is real and we want you to enjoy your holidays this season. Today we’re talking about the negative impact of holiday stress and how neurofeedback can help.

 

What Causes Holiday Stress?

 

There are many different factors that cause holiday stress but one reason is that your brain goes through many cognitive shifts during this time.

 

During the holidays you……

Plan events and gatherings.

Make big meals and homemade treats.

You’re out late buying presents, volunteering and overall just spreading yourself way too thin.

 

During this time of year, you’re constantly task-switching and you need cognitive flexibility to shift attention from one task to the next and to adapt when things need to change.¹

Shifting in this way is part of your executive function skill set – your set of mental skills that helps you complete tasks. Skills that include:

• Managing time
• Being attentive to the task at hand
• Planning and organizing
• Switching focus 
• Remembering important details 

 

These executive function skills are in high demand during the holiday season. Because of this high demand, your brain’s prefrontal cortex goes into overdrive. 

 

Your prefrontal cortex is a part of the brain that affects behavior, personality, and your ability to plan. Since these skills are all intertwined you can see how an overwhelmed prefrontal cortex can lead to behavior and mood changes. 

 

Over time, this type of stress can actually decrease memory and stop the production of new brain cells.1 In fact, a chronically stressed brain can look very similar to someone who has PTSD.  You deserve to enjoy the holidays and not feel stressed during every single event. NeurOptimal® neurofeedback is a tool that can be used to help with holiday stress. 

 

How Does NeurOptimal® Work?

 

If you’re new to learning about neurofeedback, you’re probably interested in how it works.

 

At its most basic level, neurofeedback encourages the brain to develop healthier patterns. The goal is to train your brain for better functioning. NeurOptimal® is a unique type of neurofeedback in which the brain is given a signal to self-regulate.

 

So, what does it mean to self-regulate?

 

In traditional neurofeedback, you need to work with a practitioner who uses protocols to help your brain shift into certain patterns or brain waves. NeurOptimal®  doesn’t do that at all. It taps into your brain’s own ability to find its own optimal functioning.

 

NeurOptimal® monitors the electrical activity of the brain via sensors on the scalp. It does this while you’re listening to music or watching a movie. Once the unit detects turbulence or unpleasant patterns, it signals the brain via a brief interruption. That’s it. 

 

This brief pause brings the brain back to the present moment, giving your brain the ability to find its own optimal functioning on its own. Using neurofeedback is like holding a mirror up to your brain. The brain gets information about itself and uses that information to self-correct. Bringing the brain back to the present moment encourages the brain to shift in more efficient ways (which is more pleasant for you).

 

The best thing about NeurOptimal® is that the sessions are unique to you. Everyone’s experience is different. Everyone will experience turbulence differently and the unit will only detect what’s unpleasant to you.

 

How To Reduce Holiday Stress

 

NeurOptimal® is designated by the FDA as a general wellness product. It’s used as a tool to help improve many different aspects of health and wellness. 

 

If you’re feeling stressed, it can help:

• Promote healthy sleep habits
• Promote relaxation
• Manage stress
• Improve mental acuity

 

While using neurofeedback many people say they…..

• Become more flexible and resilient 
• Wake up feeling refreshed
• Feel more comfortable and calm

 

The benefits that neurofeedback provides can really help when you’re in the thick of holiday stress. Many users report feeling calm and able to think more clearly after using neurofeedback. It’s not a cure for your stress but it can help. Neurofeedback was exactly what I needed so that my stress was manageable. Using it during the holidays can help you get ahead of the added stress you face during the holidays.

 

How To Use NeurOptimal® During The Holidays

 

Having an at-home neurofeedback device is convenient because there aren’t any appointments. You can do it in the comfort of your own home when it’s convenient for you. Each session is only 33 minutes so it’s easy to fit into your schedule. 

 

Whether you’re brand new to neurofeedback or you’ve used it in the past, you can be proactive about brain training to get the most out of it this holiday season. 

 

Here are a few suggestions.

If you already have a unit

 

If you already have a unit and you’re training, don’t stop. Continuing to train now through the holidays will help you keep your momentum going. How much you train will depend on you, your goals, and how much progress you’ve made.

 

If you have a unit and you haven’t been training, consider restarting now. Getting back to using your NeurOptimal® unit now can help you handle the upcoming holiday stress.

 

You no longer have a unit

 

If you’ve rented or purchased a NeurOptimal® unit but no longer have one and think it can help, consider getting another one. You can reach out to us to discuss the latest pricing and packaging offers. We’re happy to help you get set up with a package that’s right for you.

 

You’ve never tried NeurOptimal® but you’re interested

 

You know a little bit about at-home neurofeedback and you’re interested in learning more or maybe even renting a unit. If you have questions about it, contact us today by filling out this form and we’ll get back to you. We want to make sure you get all your questions answered. 

 

If you’ve never tried neurofeedback and you want to learn more about NeurOptimal® enter your email in the green box below to sign up for our newsletter.

By signing up for our newsletter, you’ll get our latest blogs right into your inbox along with valuable information so you can learn more about if NeurOptimal® is right for you. 

There’s never been a better time to be proactive about holiday stress. 

 

Sources

Harvard: Holiday Stress And The Brain

Disclaimer: This site contains information on general health and wellness topics. Please note that Neuroptimal® has been designated a general wellness product by the FDA. The information on this site or in any linked materials should not be construed as medical advice. The information in this article is not intended to replace any recommendations by your physician.