Don’t let stress and worry hurt your health this holiday season. While ‘tis the season to be merry, for many of us, it’s also ‘tis the season for stress, anxiety and angst. During this time of year, people often resort to bad habits—this may come in the form of overspending, eating poorly, drinking too much or even lack of sleep.
To help you have a happy season, here are 10 tips to relieve holiday stress.

1. Be realistic. The holidays don't have to be perfect or just like last year. You don’t have to be everywhere or break the bank. In addition, as families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose what to hold on to, and be open to new ideas.
2. Stick to a budget. This can be a big area of frustration. Before you go gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford – or want to spend. Then stick to your budget. Don't try to buy happiness with gifts.
3. Learn to say no. We don’t have to be all and do all. Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can't participate in every project or activity.
4. Get moving. Keep or set regular time to exercise. Research shows that physical activity not only boosts your fitness and energy levels but can also elevate your moods. In addition, exercise has been found to reduce anger, tension, fatigue and confusion. Despite the many demands on your time, this is not the season to stop exercising.
5. Keep healthy habits. Don't let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt.
6. Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm like talking a walk, reading a book, or an extra-long shower.
7. Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, parties, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make your shopping list. This will help you feel more in control of your schedule and give you time you need for your family or yourself.
8. Reach out. If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out community, religious or other social events. They can offer support and companionship. Also, check in to volunteering your time to help others. It’s a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.
9. Be generous. One of the best ways to stay calm, content and cheerful this time of year is to act generously with your loved ones, co-workers and friends. This doesn’t mean spending money either. You can be generous with your compliments, smiles, hugs and time. You can generously offer to do a loved one’s dreaded errand, offer a hug to a friend in need or help your friends and family wrap presents.  
10. Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints. If you are unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, or unable to face routine chores that lasts longer than you think is okay, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.
    

Community Solutions offers programs for youth, adults and families.  Give us a call for more information. (757)461-5098

Virginia Beach, VA - December 4, 2018. . . Mike Terkeltaub has served children and families for over 30 years.  He began his career as a residential counselor at Pleasantville Cottage School in the early 1970’s.  He worked in the “cottages”, group homes and local school the children attended.  He moved to Virginia in the early 1990’s where he founded a seminal Wraparound services program at the Barry Robinson Center.  He was named the city of Hampton Virginia Comprehensive Services Act Coordinator in 1995.  This led to accolades as Mr. Terkeltaub led a multi-agency collaborative in bringing children home from out of community institutional placements while reducing the number of children entering foster care.  These efforts resulted in creating a unique and robust community based system of care.

Mike began to serve as a consultant to local and state agencies regarding the development of trauma informed, family focused, strengths-based services for children, families and communities. He was the leader of Systems of Care and Wraparound efforts in Hampton Virginia and served for ten years as a consultant to the City of Hampton Systems of Care Leadership Team. 

He has over 25 years experience writing, developing, implementing and operating community-based programming for at-hope youth and families. He has been instrumental in developing strengths-based, community-based initiatives in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. These programs include Systems of Care approaches, Wrap-around processes, therapeutic foster care, therapeutic group homes, in-home services, mentoring, respite, and after school programs. He has consulted to communities, agencies and individual families in Virginia, Louisiana, Nebraska, Kansas, Arizona, Washington D.C., New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands.

He develops creative and sensible community-based alternatives to out-of-home care for individual young people as well as systems approaches to reducing the need for out-of-home care.  Mike has supported children and young adults successfully leaving state hospitals, treatment centers and long-term placements to live successfully in their homes, schools and communities.

Mike has created multiple public/private partnerships in his home state of Virginia including specialized intensive foster care homes, teaching parent homes, intensive case management services and specialized homes for children and families with complex needs. He has provided technical assistance to many localities throughout Virginia in creating Systems of Care and Wraparound supports and services.

He also served as the Executive Director of Children’s Behavioral Health Services in Phoenix, Arizona where he was instrumental in the development of community-based alternatives to out-of-home and out-of-community placements, as well as a leader in the development of family driven service delivery.

Mike Terkeltaub most recently served as the Chief Administrative Officer for Child and Family Support Services (CFSS), Arizona’s largest provider of community based services. Mike has been part of the CFSS Team in various capacities for 10 years. He was instrumental in the development of Direct Supports, the Mental Health clinics in Northern Arizona, the Bring Our Children Home project and the development of Behavioral Health Direct Supports in Tucson Arizona.  Since 2012 Mike has been the Project Leader in the development of Child Welfare (DCS) services at CFS

Mr. Terkeltaub holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from City University of New York and a Master of Arts Degree in Social Issues from Old Dominion University.  He has served as the keynote speaker and session trainer at over 50 conferences nationwide.  Mike was born into the foster care system in Norfolk, Virginia and works diligently to improve outcomes for at-hope young people and families served by multiple child-serving agencies.  He was recently honored as the Dreamweaver Wraparound award recipient by Karl Dennis and Dixie Jordan as well as was the recipient of the 2013 Hampton’s Hero Award.  He was the recipient of the 2014 first annual Child and Family Support Services Person of the Year award which has been renamed the CFSS Mike Terkeltaub award.

Community Solutions is proud and honored to have Terkeltaub as part of our team!