‘Tis the season to be jolly, but sometimes we don’t feel that way. What is meant to be a happy season can turn into a myriad of “to-do’s” that are suddenly added to your already too busy schedule.

We have:

•    gift choices to be made.
•    gatherings and parties to go to.
•    eating delectable goodies that bring on added pounds.
•    kids eating sweets, adding to hyperactivity around the house.
•    loneliness from being without a partner.
•    workloads pile up and the list goes on.

Many of us have unrealistic expectations that may cause us to be unhappy. We go from being excited when we think of giving someone in our family the perfect gift to being anxious about whether they will like it and whether we made the right choice.  We might also put ourselves under undue pressure to go to many parties and functions that leave us drained.

Three Keys to Managing your Moods during the Season.

Key # 1 Manage What Comes In- Stress comes from how you interpret things and your reactions to your perceptions. If you perceive that an upcoming deadline will be hard to make, then your reaction may be frustration. If you let yourself be exposed to a lot of negative complaining from others, you may feel very defeated yourself.

Key #2 – Look Inside- Take time to look at your negative feelings amidst the hustle and bustle of the season. Get out a journal and write them down. Find ways to vent your negative feelings. Spend some time with yourself in meditation to clear your mind.

Examine what are your deflating beliefs that pull you down and stress you out? (Example: I never have enough time, nobody ever likes my gift choices that I make for my family, and I can’t do enough to please everyone) Disable the perfection demon that says, “I have to do things perfectly”

Key #3- Have a Proactive Eating Plan

Watch your intake of starchy carbohydrates such as sugars in pastries and alcohol. This is the season that will be hard to resist, but in the long run your moods won’t be so up and down from blood sugar fluctuations. I leave you with these three keys so you can make your holiday time one that is enjoyable and able to focus on the true meaning of the season!

Blessings for a fabulous Christmas Season!