Managing Your “Bad Habits” During the Holidays

To me, preparation for Thanksgiving, shopping, planning the meal, inviting guests, etc. marks the beginning of the “Holiday Season.” And with it come unusually larger amounts of parties, gatherings ….and STRESS. It’s an unfortunate fact that a time that is supposed to be all about joy and togetherness can bring so much underlying emotional dysfunction.

The first thing you have to do is to be mindful. Instead of trying to stick your head in a bottle of wine or a box of Twinkies® to pretend that the various different issues don’t exist, recognize them and begin to deal with them effectively and productively, instead of self-destructively.

-Are you stressed out because of money and not being able to buy the gifts you’d like to buy?

-Are you dreading spending 3 days with your pessimistic, judgmental Aunt Suzie?

-Do you feel like you have to impress your boss or your in-laws at parties or gatherings?

Take some time and determine what is going on with you, and then begin to change the way you think or react to certain situations.

-Problems Solve – Example - find alternate, less expensive forms of gift-giving.

-Stop thinking emotionally and get logical. Your boss isn’t likely to fire you if you aren’t the perfect social butterfly at a party – And if he does, you didn’t want to work for him anyway!

-Plan ahead for dealing with certain people or certain situations – Accept that Aunt Suzie’s thoughts are just HER thoughts – they aren’t reality and let them just roll off of you like water on a duck.

-Do some natural stress-relieving activities, such as taking walks or hikes, dancing, working out. And be aware of the foods and dietary supplements that make you feel better – like spicy foods or chocolate – or maybe even MODER8 if you feel yourself starting to get a little anxious.

The most important part is to be aware and plan ahead.  If  drinking too much seems to be an issue for you,  then plan how much you are going to drink, who will be driving, plan to eat and alternate water and non-alcoholic beverages.  If overeating is your common escape, plan to stick to the healthier, lower fat and sugar selections, and drink plenty of water or sparkling water.  Maybe shopping is your go to to feel better. Set yourself a budget and make a specific list of exactly what you need and stick to it.  Then do your best to really enjoy the lights, music, laughing and gatherings this time of year. And don’t forget to be thankful for your blessings – no matter how big or small.

Happy Holidays!