1. Say yes when you mean yes and no when you mean no. It’s okay to decline the last party invitation you received. It’s okay not to do Thanksgiving or Christmas for 30 people. It’s okay to skip the holidays entirely. I skipped Thanksgiving last year and went to Key West instead.
2. Limit your alcohol consumption. If you drink wine, one super easy tip is to cut your wine with seltzer water and add berries. You can still enjoy your wine but you won’t have a headache the next day. And you won’t wake up feeling foggy… or worse. No matter what your alcoholic beverage of choice is, pace yourself. Drink 8oz of water in between. I’ll be doing the same!
2.5. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Your skin will love you and so will your waistline.
3. Make time for you. If you have to, make an appointment with yourself everyday for 15-30 minutes. Longer if you can. Trust me, when you make the time to take care of you, you’ll find you have more to give to others. Don’t let your internal gas tank run empty. Your loved ones will appreciate a more relaxed you (and so will you.)
4. Begin and end each day with your gratitude journal. If you don’t have one, that’s okay. Grab a few sheets of paper and staple them together. Index cards work great, too. Every morning jot down 3-5 things you’re grateful for. Do the same before you go to bed. Happiness and joy begin with an attitude of gratitude.
5. Breathe. Deep belly breathing reduces stress and tension almost immediately. When you’re stressed, notice your breath. Is it shallow? If it is, inhale from the tips of your toes to the top of your head and exhale slowly from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Inhale as if your whole body is inhaling. Exhale as if your whole body is exhaling.
You can practice deep breathing anywhere. Take five deep belly breaths when you’re standing in line, at a red light, when you’re trying to meet a last minute deadline, or when Santa’s list just got a little longer.
Allow the calmness and stillness of your breath and the spaciousness inside your heart center to seep into every fiber and cell of your being. Raise the corners of your mouth to your ears.
Here’s to the holidays on your terms. You get to choose. How awesome is that!