Thanksgiving is just the beginning

When it comes to holidays, it is a given that there will be stress. Planning time off work, making travel plans, and joining families and friends for an extended period of times, all bring stress to our lives.

Family is essential to me. It always has been. My parents gave us all, siblings and grandchildren, the gift of adventure travel. This meant that the entire extended family, up to 15 people at one time, would spend 2 to 3 weeks together in places that many of our friends would never see. We tracked the high mountain gorillas in Rwanda, traveled the Silk Road across China, and went on an expedition boat through the Straits of Magellan — to name just a few.

Even with this experience, managing the stress of the holidays is needed. Identifying the sources of stress provides insight into how best to handle it.

Family Tension:

Family gathers around the table thinking it will be a perfect Norman Rockwell painting — but it isn’t. Disagreements over everything from what time to eat, dinner conversations, and behavior at the table can cause stress. Remember this is only one evening and it is not a time to attempt to change the behavior of others. Avoid topics that may be controversial including politics and religion. Focus on laughter and enjoying the love of family.

Cooking for a Crowd:

Regardless of who is doing the cooking, make it a group effort. My family enjoys cooking together, so we plan, shop, and prepare after we all arrive at mom’s/grandma’s home. This is not a time to worry about diets and weight. As a Professor of Nutrition, I can tell you that one day (or even a long weekend) will neither make or break your diet. We add exercise breaks whenever possible as it brings that endorphin lift triggering a positive feeling in the body. We also add a glass of wine to toast our success.

Feeling Lonely:

It is hard to believe that one can feel lonely even when surrounded by family and friends. Loneliness is not the same as being alone. People can live solitary lives and not be lonely. It is also true that you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely. The broadest definition of loneliness is the distress people feel when reality fails to meet their ideal social relationships. This is directly related to our ability to build meaningful connections. It’s not the number of connections but rather the quality. Rather than being surrounded by your entire family, try finding some one-on-one time with a sister, brother, niece or nephew. If everyone wants to be together, suggest an activity, preferably outdoors, where everyone can participate. Our family tradition is Mojito Croquet and it is always a great time for all!

Simple Ways to Relieve Stress:

1. Exercise can relieve mental stress. Regular exercise can help lower stress and anxiety by releasing endorphins and improving your sleep and self-image.
2. Reducing caffeine intake, for some individuals can decrease stress and anxiety. However, people’s sensitivity to caffeine can vary greatly.
3. Laughter can help relieve stress. Find the humor in everyday life, spend time with funny friends or watch a funny show.
4. Mindfulness practices can help lower symptoms of anxiety and depression. Mindfulness practices may include yoga, meditation, and deep breathing. These activities may help lower stress hormone levels and blood pressure.
5. Spending time with a pet is a relaxing, enjoyable way to reduce stress. Interacting with pets may help release oxytocin, a brain chemical that promotes a positive mood.
6. Cuddling, hugging, kissing and sex provides a positive physical contact that can help release oxytocin and lower cortisol. This can help lower blood pressure and heart rate, both of which are physical symptoms of stress.
7. Supplements that help to maintain homeostasis or balance in our body may reduce anxiety and stress. Some supplements have been studied for their anti-anxiety effects including but not limited to: (a) green tea, which may lower stress and anxiety by increasing serotonin levels, (b) Ashwagandha, an herb used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat stress and anxiety, (c ) Kava kava, a psychoactive member of the pepper family has long been used as a sedative to treat mild stress and anxiety, and (d) Omega-3 fatty acids, have been found to reduce anxiety symptoms in a medical student study, by as much as 20%.
8. Cannabinoids have been shown to help the brain adapt to stress. Boosting the endocannabinoid system may help to maintain homeostasis and reduce stress-linked disorders.

Randy’s Remedy products contain naturally occurring cannabinoids from hemp which target the endocannabinoid system promoting a healthy inflammatory response and maintaining cellular balance. This supports good pain management, promotes healing, and makes the body more resilient to stress and trauma. When Randy’s Remedy products work, they do so because they supplement a deficiency that exists naturally in the body. By supplementing that deficiency, they help resolve it and many of the symptoms related to it. This leads to a fundamental improvement in the quality of your life.

Times have changed, and our family composition has changed. As a result of Randy’s death to GBM, an incurable brain cancer, Randy’s Club formed and the Strause Group, myself and two sons, Tyler and Brendon, work every day to develop botanically complete hemp products, containing naturally occurring cannabinoids, and make them available to all who may benefit.

From the Strause Group, we wish you a happy, joyous, and stress-free holiday season.