How to Stay Sane During the Holidays

If it seems like October through December is just one gigantic holiday, you're right. In the relentless world of retail, no sooner are the Halloween costumes whisked off the shelves then Thanksgiving decorations appear, Christmas lights start to twinkle, and holiday music fills the air. It can be hard to maintain your sanity when holiday stimuli surround you 24/7, along with the stressful expectations they unconsciously generate.

To remain sane during the holidays, it is important to be proactive about what you want instead of automatically reacting to societal and family programming like a robotic Stepford wife.

Here are a few valuable tips on how to stay sane during the holidays:

How to Stay Sane During the Holidays Tip #1: Write a Vision Statement

Before the holiday bedlam begins, sit down by yourself with a cup of hot tea and decide what you want from this year's holiday season. Is it more time with friends, fun family outings, helping others in need? Once you have created your vision, craft a statement that summarizes your ideal holiday experience; for example, "I will spend time with friends and family doing fun, meaningful and interesting activities; savor the sights, smells and sounds of the holidays; and find creative ways to brighten the mood and ease the burdens of friends, family and people in my community."

How to Stay Sane During the Holidays Tip #2: Say "Adios" to the Shoulds

With your vision statement clearly imprinted in your brain (or jotted down on a card in your wallet), you can begin to release yourself from the bondage of other people's expectations-those nagging feelings that you "should" be doing certain things during the holidays to be considered a good person. If an activity or expense does not conform to your holiday vision, just ignore or modify it. Ask yourself if that expectation aligns with your vision statement. For instance, instead of buying your child's teacher yet another bottle of vanilla-ginger scented lotion or apple shaped notepad, consider easing her burdens by volunteering to grade a thick stack of spelling tests.

How to Stay Sane During the Holidays Tip #3: Limit Gift Buying

Part of the stress of the holiday season is knowing that money is leaking out of your checking account like spaghetti water through a colander. Decide in advance for whom you absolutely need to purchase a gift and set strict spending limits. Inform others with whom you've exchanged gifts in the past that this year you would prefer to spend time with them instead, perhaps taking a walk through a local nature trail or sharing some coffee, confidences and home baked muffins.

How to Stay Sane During the Holidays Tip #4: Exercise Your Body

Because we tend to be busier during the holiday season, something has to give in our schedule, and guess what that usually is? If you guessed exercise, you're right! Ironically, giving up exercise is counter-productive because exercise increases production of anti-stress hormones in your body and improves your mood. Rather than waste precious time, vigorous physical activity, such as taking a walk, going to a Jazzercise class or swimming at the health club, will give you the energy, serenity and feeling of well being you need to accomplish all of those extra items on your holiday to-do list.

How to Stay Sane During the Holidays Tip #5: Stop and Smell the Poinsettias

Okay, so maybe poinsettias have no aroma, and they're not especially pretty to look at; but during the late fall and winter months it's hard to find roses to sniff. Instead of rushing around like a beheaded turkey, slow down and savor all of the wonderful things surrounding you: your child's smile, your neighbor's home-baked pumpkin loaf, the sound of crisp autumn leaves crunching under your feet. Olympic sprinting and auto racing aside, most things in life are better performed slowly so that your mind, body and spirit can fully absorb and appreciate them..

Sources:
http://www.timethoughts.com/goalsetting/vision-statements.htm
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/benefits-of-exercise?page=2