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Concierge Helps Keep Holidays Healthy and Stress-Free
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Staying healthy during the holidays can be more challenging than it sounds. In fact, did you know that?
- Studies say that the average American gains between three and ten pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's --- most of which does not go away after the season is over.
- WPIX-TV (NY, NY) reports that during the holidays 62% of individuals eat more than usual, 48% experience heightened stress levels, 37% gain weight, while 29% exercise less or quit exercising altogether. (WPIX, NY)
- The risk of severe heart problems increases by more than 30% during the holidays and winter months, says Dr. Cam Patterson, chief of cardiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and the UNC Health Care System and director of the Carolina Cardiovascular Biology Center.
And this year, as we strive to deal with the added stress and strain of the challenging economic situation, staying healthy is apt to be harder than ever. According to "2008 Stress in America," a survey that the American Psychological Association (APA) released in October, almost half of Americans are increasingly stressed about their ability to provide for their family's basic needs. Eighty percent of respondents said that the economy is a major cause of stress, up from 66% earlier in the year. More people reported physical and emotional symptoms from stress than they did in 2007, and nearly half reported that their stress has increased in the past year.
Women at greater risk --- especially during the holidays
Women more stressed than men over the financial situation. The APA survey found that 83% of women reported that they were stressed about money, versus 78% of men. The state of the economy was causing stress for 84% of women, in comparison with 75% of men. Women felt more stress than men over job stability, housing costs, and health problems affecting their families. Women also were more likely to report physical symptoms of stress such as fatigue, irritability, headaches, and feelings of depression or sadness.
And, the stress of the holidays puts women’s health at even greater risk. A survey by the National Women's Health Resource Center states that two-thirds of women report depression during the holidays, brought on largely by the added pressure of having to get-it-all-done. Further, nearly half of all women in the United States experience heightened stress during the holidays at great risk to the health of their minds and bodies, according to a 2006 survey by the APA.
What’s truly alarming is that compared to previous surveys on stress, the APA found that women are actually doing less to address the increased stress of the holiday season. Despite repeated warnings about the effects of stress on both psychological and physical health, women are relying more on unhealthy behaviors to manage stress during the holidays and the rest of the year, such as using food to deal with stress (41%) or drinking alcohol (28%).
Concierge can help put healthy back into the holidays
Especially this year when the economy is threatening holiday cheer, taking proactive steps to keep you and your family healthy during the holiday season is very important. When most people think of concierge, they think of getting help with tasks such as suggesting and buying gifts, securing tickets for concerts, sporting events or the theater, or making dinner reservations. While concierge can readily handle these types of requests --- that’s certainly not all. Those who tap into the services will quickly learn that there are a variety of ways concierge can help them and their families stay healthy and stress-free during the holidays.
For example, concierge can:
- Provide a list of healthful twists to traditional holiday recipes.
- Find someone to hang up and take down the Christmas lights.
- Develop a list of fun local community sports and activities to keep the entire family active.
- Assist with all aspects of planning a restful vacation break.
- Find volunteer opportunities for the entire family. One of the best ways to reduce stress is to help others, and there's going to be plenty of people who need help this season.
- Recommend a nutritionist who can help tailor a diet plan to a person’s or family’s likes and dislikes.
- Seek out exercise classes for the whole family that are offered during the holiday season to help ward off those extra pounds.
- Research and compare prices of exercise equipment.
- Locate stress management, healthy cooking, yoga and community sports programs in the area.
As an added bonus, using concierge saves time. Recent surveys indicate that tapping into concierge saves an average of 3.4 hours per request. That’s extra time that can be spent with family, exercising, relaxing ---- in other words, more time to spend doing whatever you want to do.
It may not always be easy to keep the holidays healthy and stress-free ---- but concierge can certainly help. From diet and exercise to vacationing and volunteering, concierge can find the solutions to bring health and happiness to the holiday season.
Kimberlee Mineo is Vice President for Client Development, of Boston-based Circles, a loyalty services company. Circles (www.circles.com) creates and delivers concierge services, events and unique experiences provided as customer and employee rewards for some of the world’s leading brands.
For more information, Mineo can be reached at 617-622-6200; Kimberlee.mineo@circles.com