Surviving and Thriving During the Holidays

Holiday gatherings celebrate being together but they also can trigger stress, which adversely affects emotional and physical health, leaving one feeling like a contestant trapped in a holiday version of “Survivor.” Below are several technological apps to help manage your stress this holiday season.

A proven stress management tool is diaphragmatic breathing. Breathe2Relax (iOS & Android) focuses on that while also providing education on how stress impacts your body. Download this app and mindfully breathe away your stress. Meditation produces a state of relaxation and tranquility.

Apps such as Take A Break! Guided Meditations for Stress Relief (iOS & Android) and Headspace (iOS & Android) offer beginner friendly guided meditations while Stop, Breathe, & Think (iOS & Android) provide more personalized meditations based on a feeling check-in. Lack of sleep or low quality sleep decreases your ability to handle stress and Relax Melodies (iOS & Android) aids sleep through gentle sounds and melodies.

Finally, if you want to engage your creativity or gaming side, Buddha Board (iOS only) helps you “paint” away your stress while Personal Zen (iOS) and Happify (iOS & Android) encourages you to play away your stress. This holiday season let your phone work for you!

This article was written by Erica Sewell, LCSW, RPT and Certified Autism Specialist and published in the December/January edition of Thrive Magazine by Dallas Child.