It\u2019s the most wonderful time of the year \u2013 or not. Let\u2019s face it, with the back-to-back holiday parties, the endless Christmas shopping and excessive crowds, and the ceaseless cooking and family gatherings, the festive season can go from merry to manic in a matter of moments.<\/p>\n
The question is, how do you do less and enjoy more this holiday season? We\u2019ve rounded up four ways to help keep you organized and stay sane during the holiday rush.<\/p>\n
Be Good to Your Body<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cTake care of yourself.\u201d We\u2019ve all heard this a million times, but it merits repeating especially during the holidays. Studies continually show that those who get a good night\u2019s sleep are more focused, are more apt to handle stress, and are generally happier (along with a whole host of other perks!) And, while it may be hard to get to the gym in between work and holiday shopping, we suggest walking away your worries when feeling stressed. Exercise has been shown to be a natural stress reliever as well as an overall mood booster.<\/p>\n Plan Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n Just like a runner visualizes themselves crossing the finish line, the best way to stay on track this holiday season is to look ahead and plan accordingly. Take into account everything you\u2019d like to accomplish, whether it be shopping, cooking, gift wrapping, etc, and schedule them into your calendar. Then, treat these items like you would any other appointment \u2013 no changes.<\/p>\n The Power of No<\/strong><\/p>\n While it\u2019s tempting to say yes to every invitation you receive during the holidays, the word no can actually be extremely liberating. By picking and choosing the parties and events you wish to attend, you\u2019ll be able to enjoy yourself more without feeling obliged to be there. There is no need to explain why you can\u2019t be somewhere, a simple \u201cI\u2019m sorry I already have plans for that time\u201d is more than enough. Whether your plan is to exercise, get some much needed rest or attend another function, you don\u2019t have to feel obligated to take on more than you can.<\/p>\n Take a Moment for Yourself<\/strong><\/p>\n No matter how overwhelming the holidays can get, whether you\u2019ve been waiting in line for 45 minutes at a toy store or cleaning the house for two hours, it\u2019s important to keep your mind and body calm. Take a bath, listen to your favorite music\u00a0or simply close your eyes, take several deep breathes, and just image yourself in a beautiful place. By slowing down and taking a moment for yourself, you\u2019ll be able to fend off feeling of stress, which will in turn better help you accomplish the tasks you have at hand.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s the most wonderful time of the year \u2013 or not. Let\u2019s face it, with the back-to-back holiday parties, the endless Christmas shopping and excessive crowds, and the ceaseless cooking […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":7138,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6530","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wellness"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n