WAYS TO FIND JOY AND BALANCE DURING THE HOLIDAYS

The holiday season offers many opportunities to spend quality time with family and friends. If the family gatherings, the endless parties, and the shopping get you down, you’re hardly alone. While it might take some conscious effort on your part, you can reduce your stress and find joy throughout the season.

1. Keep your expectations modest. Don’t get hung up on what the holidays are supposed to be and how you’re supposed to feel.  Worry less about the holiday spirit and take the holidays as they come.

2. Do something different. This year, does the prospect of the usual routine fill you with holiday dread rather than holiday joy? If so, try something different. Eat at a restaurant, enjoy a movie at the theater on Christmas Day, take a hike, or get your family to agree to skip gifts and donate the money to a charity.

3. Don’t assume the worst. Don’t start the holiday season anticipating disaster. If you try to take the holidays as they come and limit your expectations -- both good and bad -- you may enjoy them more.

4. Forget the unimportant stuff. Don’t run yourself ragged just to live up to holiday tradition. So what if you don’t get the lights on the roof this year? Give yourself a break. Worrying about trivial stuff will not add to your holiday spirit.

7. Volunteer. Consider taking time to help people who have less than you. Try volunteering at a soup kitchen or working for a toy drive. You could really find some comfort from making a difference in the lives of people who are less fortunate.

8. Head off problems. Think about what people or situations trigger your holiday stress and figure out ways to avoid them. You really have more control than you think.

9. Ask for help. People may be more willing to help out than you expect; they just need some guidance from you on what to do.

10. Don’t worry about things beyond your control. Remember your limits and what you can control. Remember, you can control your reactions to a situation.

11. Make new family traditions. People often feel the need to keep family holiday traditions alive. Don’t keep them going for their own sake. Start a new holiday tradition instead. Create something that is more meaningful to you personally.

12. Find positive ways to remember loved ones. Holidays may remind you of the loved ones who aren’t around anymore. Do something active to celebrate their memory.

13. Don’t overbook. Pace yourself and don’t get overwhelmed. Don’t say yes to every invitation.

14. Forget about the perfect gift. If you’re already feeling overwhelmed, now is not the time to fret about finding the absolute best gift ever. Remember, everyone likes a gift certificate.

15. Shop online. Save yourself the inconvenience and the crowds, by doing some of your shopping online.

16. Stick to a budget. The cost of holiday shopping mounts quickly and can make people feel out of control and anxious. Draw up a budget long before you actually start your shopping and stick to it.

17. Stay on schedule. As much as you possibly can, try to stick with your normal routine during the holidays. Disrupting your schedule and sleeping less can make your mood deteriorate.

18. Exercise. While you may not feel like you have the time to exercise during the holidays, the benefits are worth it. You can work physical activity into your errands, take an extra loop around the mall.

19. Eat sensibly. When you’re facing holiday parties and family gatherings between now and New Year’s, it’s hard to stay committed to a sensible diet. But try. Eating healthy may keep you feeling better -- physically and emotionally. But don’t beat yourself up if you go overboard, just get back on track the next day.

20. Give yourself a break. The holidays can make some people dwell on their imperfections, their mistakes, the things they’re not proud of.  Cut yourself some slack, this is not an easy time of year for a lot of people. Be gentle with yourself. It is the season of kindness and forgiveness, after all. Save some of it for yourself.