For many, the holidays can be one of the most stressful times of the entire year. For two full months, normal schedules already packed with work, home tasks, social events, and taking care of family are compounded by the added obligations of hosting, decorating, meal planning, turkey purchasing, tree choosing, gift wrapping, volunteering, holiday gatherings, and more. By the time the joyous season is over, most people are exhausted and depleted rather than renewed for the new year ahead. We recognize this as problematic on a number of levels. In addition to the varied health implications and the missed optimal enjoyment of an otherwise fun and festive time of year, this long term stress can have a negative impact on your hair for many months to come. As we discussed in August, chronic stress can cause hair thinning and loss through a mechanism called telogen effluvium, in which follicles that would normally be in the growth phase are prematurely sent to the resting phase in order to conserve nutrients for other, newly arisen physiological needs.
How can we avoid this unwanted hair loss though when the holidays seem to get only more and more hectic as the years go on? The first step is to make the decision not to let the stress of the season get the best of you this year. It takes effort and adjustments, but being consistently aware of this intention can increase your chances for success. Holiday stress won’t just disappear without a calculated decision to make it so!
Once you have set your mind to skipping the stress this holiday season, set aside some time for a brainstorming session complete with pen, paper, and maybe a warm cup of coffee or hot chocolate too. On the left side of the first sheet of paper, write down your top three priorities for the season in order. This may include time with family, holiday spirit, work or income, volunteering, cooking, or a number of other focuses. Then, on the right side of the page, write down all of the things you have to do in November and December (actually, if you are anything like us, this part will probably take more than half of a page).
Now that you are sufficiently overwhelmed by the monstrously long list you have created, begin reconsidering each of your to dos with your top three priorities in mind. Rate and rank the importance of each task if that helps. You will quickly find that a number of the obligations on your list are there out of habit, tradition, or a sense of what you owe someone else, not necessarily because YOU want them there. For example, if your priorities this year are to spend time with family, to take care of your health, and to enjoy cooking up delicious, seasonal treats, maybe you don’t need to put your energy into competing in the neighborhood Christmas light competition or take responsibility for planning a large work celebration. It is okay to say no! Doing fewer things at the holidays often means doing these things better than you would have had you taken on twice the number of to dos. Additionally, maintaining your spirits and health in November and December prepares you to be vibrant and energized in January. That positive start manifests itself in many ways, not the least of which is in your hair.
List making, prioritizing, and reducing to dos are abstract ways to support hair health through stress management. Remember, while there are many treatments, products, and women’s hair restoration options available, it is perhaps even more essential to take the time to prevent hair thinning and loss in the first place. A brainstorming session is one example of how you can make the effort to do so during the chaos of the holidays. Whatever you opt to prioritize this season, enjoy the merriment! Contact us today!
