"Smiling spreads positivity, uplifts spirits, and brightens ordinary moments."
Happy Thursday! đ
The holiday season is a time to embrace joy and share big smiles, but the added demands can make it challenging to keep a cheerful spirit. If you want to combat stress and feel your best during this busy stretch, check out this weekâs Happiness Note, â11 Ways to Ease Stress and Feel Better Over the Holidays.â
You can access this week's topic below (available for free subscribers) and consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive the weekly planning prompt and framework to set you up for December 23rd- December 29th. †Emily
This Weekâs Featured Topic:
11 Ways to Ease Stress and Feel Better Over the Holidays
The holiday season is meant to be the most wonderful time of the year. However, it can feel challenging to maintain a happy disposition during the busyness of the holidays.
Even if you enjoy the energy of the holiday season, sometimes the added hustle and bustle can lead to feeling worn down and stressed out.
If you are looking for ways to combat stress and feel good over the holidays, here are 11 strategies to help you feel your best.
#1: Limit Screen Time
Instead of scrolling through endless highlight reels on social media, make this the season of nurturing the connection you have with yourself and your loved ones.
If you feel lonely or bored, donât turn to your phone for comfort.
As Mark Twain wisely said: âComparison is the death of joy.ââ You wonât find comfort in comparing your real life with other peopleâs highlight reels. Itâs simply not realistic.
However, you may find comfort in nurturing the connections you have with the special people in your life. It is comforting to unplug from your devices and get outside in nature, get lost in a good book, or get an uninterrupted nightâs sleep.
Take a break from your devices this holiday season and see how it feels.
#2: Donât Skimp on Slumber Time
A good nightâs sleep is like magic. When we are sleep-deprived, holiday stress can feel beyond amplified.
According to sleepfoundation.org, âsleep is a vital indicator of overall health and well-being.â Go here to download their recommended sleep times chart.
Sometimes, a solid nightâs sleep is exactly what we need to hit the restart button and experience our holiday season from a fresh perspective. Arianna Huffingtonâs book The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time, is a wonderful resource that inspires us to change the way we view our relationship with sleep.
Getting regular sleep at this time of year is a consistent way to reduce stress. When we feel rested and recharged, itâs much easier to start the day fresh and with a new perspective.
#3: Fuel Your Machine Properly
Your body is your most valuable asset, treat it well. Much like we wouldnât put soap in the gas tank of a car, we shouldnât be consuming food that is processed and filled with chemicals and junk.
The holiday season can lead to eating more sweets and unhealthy snacks, especially if we need more comfort than usual. It can be challenging to make healthy choices.
I like to follow the 80/20 rule. Aim for 80% of the time making healthy choices, like whole foods that are alive and nutrient dense. The 20% is reserved for my favorite holiday treats.
The idea isnât to micromanage every aspect of life, so it isnât fun. Itâs more about understanding that how we fuel our bodies makes a difference in how we feel. Moderation is key.
Feeding our bodies nutritious food and clean water makes a world of difference in how we feel. When we feel good in our bodies, itâs so much easier to maintain a bright disposition.
#4: Give Back
If itâs within your reach this holiday season, spend some time being in service to others. Give back to your community, locally or globally.
Some ideas include local food banks, schools, hospitals, animal shelters, or a global cause you are passionate about.
There is nothing more heartwarming than being in service to others and knowing you are giving back to those who truly need it.
Giving without expectation of anything in return gives your mind a break from worrying and instead directs your time and energy where it can make a positive impact.
#5: Wear Your Smile
Smiling is a universal language that expresses the true spirit of who we are. It is the same regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. Everyone wearing or receiving a smile shares an understanding of what it means and has the opportunity to be affected by it.
Smiling spreads positivity into the world. There is something about smiling that creates an instant feeling of lightness and happiness.
Having a keen awareness of the benefits of smiling could be enough for some people to wear one regularly. However, during the holidays, life can get busy with a lot of rushing around. It can become second nature to get swept up in tasks, to dos, and endless thoughts. The urge to smile and feel light can be forgotten. This year, share your smile as much as you can. It will feel good.
A happy demeanor is contagious and is not only a gift to others around us but also a powerful gift to ourselves. When we feel happy and light, itâs much easier to feel good about ourselves and positively interact with those around us. The simple act of smiling is a wonderful way to practice being happy in the moment and loving the life you are in.
Try it throughout the holiday season and see what happens when you wear your smile.
#6: Shelf It
If possible, save heated discussions for after the holidays. Instead, give yourself permission to completely shelf the issue (without feeding it) until then.
If it still feels like an important issue after the holidays, deal with it then. My bet is that it will be long forgotten, or you will offer a different perspective that isnât as emotionally charged.
#7: Less is More
Most of us have become used to the idea that less is more. We can view this less-is-more approach as a gift we are giving each other. Instead of feeling pressured to make up for lost time and attend to everything, prioritize quality over quantity. The holidays come and go, so enjoy the moments you are in as much as possible.
#8: Love the Ones Youâre With
If youâre blessed to have at least one special person you can connect with over the holidays, slow down and enjoy that time.
Nothing is worse than finally settling down with your loved ones and filling that time with distraction instead of connection.
Do yourself and your loved ones a favor and give them the gift of your full, undivided presence this holiday season. Put your phone to rest, or ensure itâs out of reach. Listen more and talk less.
Take in every moment with your loves.
#9: Limit Trimmings and Trappings
Save yourself some time and financial stress. Limit trimmings and trappings and spread your unique cheer instead.
For the love of all things, donât buy what you canât afford just because itâs Christmas. That isnât an act of love. Itâs not kind to yourself, the landfill, or your gift recipient.
Energetically, being joyful and spreading well-wishes to others around you is much kinder. Instead of stretching your wallet past what is comfortable, opt to give homemade gifts, acts of service, or donations to a worthy cause if thatâs within your reach.
The best gift Iâve ever received is a yearâs worth of car cleaning (inside and out) from my husband and sons. Every weekend, they clean my car. Itâs the gift that keeps on giving, and I love everything about it.
Think outside the box (literally) and come up with some gift ideas this year that will feel as good to give as they will to receive.
#10: All Things are Temporary
Remind yourself, as often as you need to, that all things in life are temporary, and that includes the holiday season. The reminder that this too shall pass is powerful.
When we are stressed, it can feel like we are in the eye of a storm without a way out. This is when deep, intentional breathing can become your lifeline. If you feel your stress levels elevating, breathe through and see what shifts.
Wherever you are:
Take a deep, intentional breath in, hold for the count of 4, and then focus on exhaling slowly.
Repeat as often as necessary until you quiet your mind and feel more grounded.
Then, shift your narrative. If your story is, âI am anxious, angry, or frustrated,â see what changes when you say to yourself, âIt is okay to experience anxiety, anger, or frustration, etc.; they are just experiences.â The same goes for joy, abundance, and excitement. All feelings are okay. This little reminder can help take the edge off and ease the feeling of being swallowed by your current state.
There is peace and acceptance in noticing that nothing lasts forever. Our holidays will come and go. We can make the most of our moments. If those moments donât feel great, we can find comfort knowing that this will pass.
#11: Let Gratitude Help You See
If all else fails, connect inward and see your life through the eyes of gratitude. Instead of hyper-focusing on what you canât do or what you still have left to do, bring it back to basics.
Name out loud what you are grateful for: one thing you can see, one thing you can touch, one thing you can hear, one thing you can smell, and one thing you can taste.
Donât let the stress of the holidays cloud your view of whatâs most important in life: the gift of being alive on this amazing and colorful journey.
Happy holidays to you and yours.
This Weekâs Quote:
Limited on time or donât feel like reading
Check out this weekâs Video instead:
Planning for Next Weekđ:
Use the framework below to plan your upcoming week: December 23rd- December 29th. Some people like to map out their forthcoming week on Friday to ease into the weekend, knowing they are ready to hit the road running on Monday. Others (like myself) have a Sunday planning ritual. Do what works best for you. Over the years, in supporting many people in their planning and goal-setting, it seems to work best to pick a day of the week thatâs easy to stick to so that your weekly planning becomes a habit and ritual.
What are your wins? Before you organize the upcoming week, âDecember 23rd- December 29thâ, reflect on the week you are wrapping up. What are your wins (big or small)? What is something you are grateful for? What have you learned about yourself this week? Record your reflections in your journal or the Notes section of the Planner Printout. Feel free to comment below (others in this community will also be able to see your comment) or hit reply to this note and share directly with me.
Planner PDF printout: This printout is from the âFall in Love with Your Life, Seasonal Plannerâ and will give you the framework and planning system to help you organize your upcoming week: December 23rd- December 29th. Click here to access. You will need to enter a password to open the PDF. Itâs in all caps: FILWYL
Accountability: If youâd like an accountability check-in to support you in making the weekly planning ritual a regular habit, just hit reply to this email after youâve organized your week and let me know youâre organized and complete. Feel free to share your weekly intention/power word. Iâm always happy to be the check-in support and would love to celebrate your wins.
Instructional Video: Get free access to this mini 20-minute video course. It will show you how to efficiently use the âFall in Love With Your Life, Seasonal Plannerâ method of organizing your week. Go here to access the free video course.
Priorities: What are your top three priorities for the upcoming week? What are some of the daily ways you will prioritize yourself? Remember to balance your energy output with energy input. Think: What has been energizing me lately? What has been draining my energy?
Share your intention for the week of December 23rd- December 29th. What are you calling in? What is your power word/phrase?
Or come Share in our Facebook Group
Disclaimer: This newsletter's advice and strategies are for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional advice. While we strive to provide accurate and helpful information, we cannot guarantee outcomes or be held liable for any consequences of using or misusing the information provided. We encourage you to seek professional advice or consult with qualified experts for guidance related to your particular needs.