Dealing With Holiday Stress

This week has been a hectic week for me. I do not have an assigned route at the post office and am often assigned to routes that I am unfamiliar with. During this time of year that can be extra stressful because with the increased mail and parcel volume I have to work extra hard to finish the route in the allotted time.

Like many people, when I am under stress, I want to seek comfort in food. And this time of year, people are more than willing to offer it to me. Letter carriers are often given cookies, candy, and other assorted goodies at this time of year.

How I am dealing with this? First, I don’t eat candy or cookies. I will give them to coworkers or put them in the break room at the post office for others to take. If I am tempted to eat something that is given to me, I will instead eat a low point food from my bag – a piece of fruit or a fiber bar, for example.

What about eating binges? Stress can lead to eating binges, and that is something that should be avoided. However, occasionally even I will succumb to one. But I have rules for my binges. I will binge only on low point foods. Don’t go for the candy or Christmas cookies! Instead binge on foods that are 2 points or less per serving. Even if you end up going over your allotted points for the day, the damage is not nearly as bad as if you ate a dozen cookies, or a box of candy.

If you are at home and are tempted to binge, do something to take your mind off of it. Exercise is the best thing, but anything can help. Play a game, go online, call a friend, do some housework – anything that will get your mind off of food.

The holiday season can be stressful. Look for things other than food to relieve your stress. If and when you do succumb to an eating binge, do it with low point filling foods. This will help to prevent backsliding.