5 Ways To Reduce Holiday Stress

Jan 16
00:37

2005

JoAnna Carey

JoAnna Carey

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Are those bells ringing in your ears a sign of holiday cheer or a sign of too much stress? Don't let this Holiday Season slip by in a blur of over ... Commit to making changes -- one step at a

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Are those bells ringing in
your ears a sign of holiday cheer or a sign of too much
stress? Don't let this Holiday Season slip by in a blur of
over scheduling. Commit to making changes -- one step at a
time and you'll discover the gift of a more enjoyable
year-end celebration. As you juggle the complexities of
work,5 Ways To Reduce Holiday Stress Articles home and family, here are 5 simple steps that may help
you become as jolly as ol' St. Nick.

5. Develop an list of
everything you would like to do THIS Holiday Season, then
prioritize in order to get the most amount of joy from the
limited amount of time you have to spend with family,
friends and coworkers. Remember, this year's priorities may
look different than those of holidays past!

4. Express gratitude. What a great time of year to thank all of those
people who make your life worth living! Don't let the hustle
and bustle of the season steal away your opportunity to be
thankful for the people, experiences and events (both good
and bad) that made this year unique and memorable. If you're
sending greeting cards, why not add a personalized message
about why you are thankful for having the recipient in your
life.

3. Learn to say NO -- put YOU first sometimes. It's
ok to say no! I repeat: it is ok to say NO! Schedule some
"alone time" during the holidays so you can reduce the
temptation to take on too many responsibilities that may
cause a meltdown at the worst possible moment.

2. Choose your battles wisely. As the end of the year quickly
approaches, you may be pulled in too many directions and it
may be impossible for you to attend every get together.
Holidays are often full of over taxed emotions so, rather
than succumbing to a confrontation, try to approach each
situation as an opportunity to accommodate the most
important needs of those involved. Express your opinion
about the little things that are causing extra stress
instead of hiding those emotions that may cause your temper
to reach the boiling point.

1. Life really is about the
journey. Savor the moments! That is a difficult concept for
those of us who are always striving toward a particular
goal. Savoring the moment means allowing yourself enough
time to celebrate each activity before rushing on to the
next event.

BONUS Stress Reducer: Buy copies of the Rat Race
Relaxer Book -- 52 stress busting tips, one for every week
of 2005 -- a gift that will challenge you and your friends
to get what you want in return for running the rat race!

While the keys may appear simple, they are guaranteed to
help you tackle the rat race head-on, and turn it into a
race than can be run --and won-- by charting your own course
rather than navigating someone else's.

_______________ Copyright 2004 Carey’D Away Enterprises, LLC,
All Rights Reserved. * Adapted from the book Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey. This article may be reproduced and shared as long as the
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