There’s a reason we see so many coffee joints around — Starbucks, Peet’s, Dutch Bros. and so on. Many of our members work at such places inside our Union stores.
We live in a society where everyone expects us to be always on the go, and coffee helps us maintain the energy levels we require to do what we need to do.
From the moment the alarm blasts its good-morning jingle, we’re in full-speed mode: get the kids ready for school, drive to work, clock in, make the customers happy, drive home, make dinner, do the dishes, help with the homework and clean up the mess in the living room.
Finally, we force ourselves to lie down with the knowledge we’ll be going through it all again tomorrow.
If these everyday stressors weren’t enough, we have to deal with the devastating losses many of us experienced in the recent fires.
The holiday season is already a stressful time under the best of circumstances. Customers can become frantic, impatient and even rude. Meanwhile, we are dealing with our own concerns about holiday shopping, preparing for holiday meals and coping with visiting relatives and friends.
Stress has a negative impact on our overall health and behavior, to say nothing about our relationships with friends, family and co-workers.
The best way to handle stress is to identify our stressors and learn how to manage them. Failure to do so can lead to illness and other problems at work and at home.
A good first step is to keep in mind it is perfectly fine to not be perfect.
Slow down, if only just for a minute. When you pass a window, look outside and enjoy the light coming in or the stars shining bright.
And if you’re drinking a cup of coffee to help you get through your day, don’t forget to smell it, too. Take a moment to savor your favorite creamer and how the steam feels on your face.
At work and at home, reflect on the beauty of our differences. They make each of us special.
Remember how the holidays are supposed to bring out the best of us as we cherish and celebrate our connections with people we love.
From all of us at UFCW 8-Golden State, we wish you a joyous and low-stress holiday season.
