The winter holidays are typically very stressful. For a variety of reasons. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas is frequently the most stressful time of the year for many people. There are school, work, and church programs, parties, and family gatherings, often involving food and, unfortunately for diabetics, the worst possible foods for diabetes control! For many, this season involves packing and traveling to distant locations, or frantic cleaning and decorating one’s home to receive long-distance visitors. So we’re going to take the first three (3) weeks in December to de-stress as much as possible. That is enough of a challenge!

Practice Law of Health #8

Goal: To reduce stress (and high blood sugars) as much as possible during the winter holidays.

The Law of Health #8 is to Trust in Divine Power. This is applicable to—and essential for—diabetics, whether or not they are Seventh-day Adventists or even Christian. That’s because lack of trust leads to stress, and stress is a major factor in high blood sugar. (If you need more explanation about Law of Health #8, please refer to https://adventistvegetariandiabetics.wordpress.com/about/8-laws-of-health/trust-in-divine-power/.)

Read this article by Dr. Arlene Taylor, brain-function specialist, Holiday Frazzled? Choose to Live Defrazzled! Then think about what you can do to minimize holiday stress for you.

• Don’t obsess over how other people choose to express (or not express) a holiday greeting.
• Allow others to celebrate their holiday traditions without your criticism.
• Listen to music, watch movies, and read books that bring you joy, regardless of other people’s opinions.
• Continue to buy/cook food that fits within your dietary lifestyle and diabetes protocol.
• Focus on the people that you love, not on things.

Interestingly, Spiritual Literacy Month is an annual designation observed in December.

Reference: http://famvin.org/en/2011/12/09/who-knew-december-is-spiritual-literacy-month/