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5 Ways to Minimize Holiday Stress

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The Most Wonderful or Stressful Time of Year?

December is a month that either you love, hate or tolerate. For some, Christmas is a very stressful time of year. Between all the decorations, food, parties, gifts to buy, traveling and entertaining family and friends and money, it is easy to let stress get the best of you.  We get so caught up in all the things that we feel we “have to do” for Christmas that we forget the meaning of Christmas. What about making it a priority to just enjoy the month of December? Choosing to be happy instead of stressed? We have 5 ways to help you make this Christmas one to remember- not one you want to forget.

5 Ways To Minimize Holiday Stress

  1. Avoid the mall: The mall this time of year is a fucking zoo! People everywhere and parking is a pain in the ass. You’re stressed before you even get into the mall! How about avoiding it altogether? Last year was my first year doing all of my shopping outside of the mall and it was a success! It’s easier than ever to get everything you need online. Amazon, Target, Walmart (free 2-day shipping w/out a membership) are all the obvious choices to find just about anything and everything on your gift list. FashionNova.com is another personal favorite if you are shopping for someone who loves clothes and they ALWAYS have discount codes you can easily find online. H&M, Victoria’s Secret, Wayfair, and Barnes & Noble are all great online shopping options as well! 
  2. Make Time for Yourself: Ok, so you just wrapped 73 gifts and decorated the entire house to look like the North Pole. That deserves a break and some relaxation. Watch your favorite Christmas movie and just CHILL. Make yourself some tea or your favorite cocktail and cuddle up on the couch. Read a book that you have been wanting to finish or take a bubble bath. You don’t need to give every minute of your day to others. You matter too and pampering yourself can be a gift to yourself! Self-care is important! Just remember to slow down and smile 🙂 
  3. Combat Stress With a Workout: Yes, exercise is pretty much our answer to all of our problems. It just makes you happy! Endorphins pumping lead to smiling and reducing stress. It’s a fact. Keep up with your workout routine during the holidays or start a new one if you already don’t have one. Hit up a yoga studio, the gym, go for a run or walk, jump-rope at home etc. Just do something to work your body and release that stress! If you don’t want to pay for a membership you can always do workouts at home following a YouTube channel!
  4. Be okay with Saying “No”: Lots of people want your time during the holiday season and that can be overwhelming. Saying no to some things is completely fine and can help you feel less stress. Spreading yourself too thin is a major cause of stress so try to stay away from doing that. Instead, communicate with people and they should respect your decision. It is a busy time of year so, using your time wisely will help you decrease stress. Weekends can be filled with parties, get-togethers and other events but don’t think you have to be apart of every single one. 
  5. Enjoy this time of year: The Holiday season can be stressful enough. Spending time with family can also be stressful for some people too. Do what makes you happy! That is what it is all about. Start a new tradition, do something with only your immediate family or a small group of friends. Things don’t always have to be so big and bold during the holiday season. If simplicity makes you happy, stick with that. Just enjoy this time of year because it will be over before you know it. 

Have a Merry Christmas

We hope that you found these tips useful and hopefully they inspired you to look at December in a different way. This really is a wonderful time of year and if you take the time to appreciate it you will have more happy memories and less stressful days. Cheers to a stress-free Christmas!

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Five Books To Change the Way you Think

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Escaping Through Reading

Books are a great way to escape. Whenever I start reading a new book, I get out of my head, and the world around me fades. Some books have different impacts on you than others, but some special ones have the ability to change the way you think. I have always loved reading especially for this purpose. I have so many favorites, but these five books changed the way I viewed things in my life. They are ones that I have marked up with notes, dog-eared the crap out of and recommend to others. There’s something special about finding a unique book that can change your perspective. 

5 Books That Will Change the Way you Think

1) The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer : This book will change the way you view yourself, your thoughts and your journey through this life. This book helped me see things in a different light. It helped me to understand that I’m not alone in the way I think and feel. It discusses the Self and the Ego and helps you break down walls you might not have realized you had up. If you are looking for a read that will take you on a ride to discovering your inner Self and Soul… then this book is for you. You can purchase it here.

2) Opening the Hand of Thought by Kosho Uchiyama: This book took me a while to get through. It was one that I kept re-reading chapters, and I highlighted passages throughout the entire text. It’s a little bit more of a difficult read regarding breaking down the information. There are so many useful, insightful and thought-provoking paragraphs in this book. It breaks down the Self and how to truly find peace of mind. This book introduced me to zazen, and it also breaks down how to properly meditate. One of my favorite passages from this book, ” This is what a true spiritual practice is about: not spirit or mind separated from the body and the world, but a true way of life. This is what zazen is- a practice of living out the fresh reality of life.” This will always be one of my most cherished and beloved books. You can purchase it here.

3) The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck by Mark Manson: It’s no secret that ‘fuck’ is one of my favorite words so yes, I was at first sucked in solely on the title. And yes, fuck is used quite often throughout the book as well. This is a nice, easy and entertaining read. It’s a self-help book without really feeling like a self-help book. It reminds us that we all have problems but the choices we make depends on whether or not those problems define us. It talks a lot about the psychology of people and that all of us..are well.. fucked up on some level. Pick and choose what is worth giving a fuck about. “And if you go around giving a fuck about everything and everyone without conscious thought or choice- well, then you’re going to get fucked.” You can buy this gem here.

4) Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh: This book is a breath of fresh air. It’s a light and easy to read. From discussing conscious breathing to different types of mediation, love, compassion, and looking inside yourself. This book is a beautiful read and will make you happier reading it. It makes you stop and think about just how lucky and beautiful the present moment is. Things are not always as bad as they seem, it’s all in how you react to situations. “Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile.” Pick up a copy here. 

5) Recovery by Russell Brand: I originally bought this book to help understand the addiction that someone I love is battling with. I started this book with an open mind but didn’t think that within the first chapter that I would be learning about my own addictions. When we think of addictions, we typically think drugs, alcohol, sex, etc. But, there are endless addictions out there. Social media, food, negative ways of thinking, shopping, and gambling, are all addictions and just the tip of the addiction iceberg. I did the exercises in this book and wrote down things I wanted to change about myself. Not only did I get to see things from an addicts perspective but I always learned things about myself that I didn’t view as addictions. Russell Brand is raw and honest, and I truly enjoyed this book. He has a clever spin on the 12 step program, and I highly recommend this book.Even if you aren’t an “addict” you can still learn greatly from this book. You can grab it here. 

Conclusion

There are millions of books on millions of different topics. You can download books on your phone or tablet, get audio versions or the classic hardcover or softcover editions. The options are endless, and there is something out there to quench your thirst for knowledge. These five books are just a few of my favorites, and hopefully, they will peak your interest. Please let us know if you have read any these or share your favorites with us! I always love getting new reading material!

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