| This is such a happy and joyous time of year. | | | | to the bus, or walk Fido. Exposing your eyes to |
| Unfortunately it is also highly stressful and often | | | | sun rays (yes, even on dark cloudy days) for at |
| depressing as well. What can you do? More than | | | | least 20 minutes a day is a natural antidepressant. |
| you might think actually. Try these 5 very simple | | | | This is a great way to stave the winter blues. |
| suggestions to manage your holiday stress: | | | | 4. Keep it simple. If you are entertaining, ask |
| 1. Get enough rest! This is hugely important. When | | | | guests to bring a dish (less cooking). Put out half |
| your body lacks sleep, it is like running on empty. | | | | your Christmas decorations. Your kids won't |
| You feel awful and irritable. The easiest way for | | | | notice if the tree doesn't have your hand blown |
| me to find extra time to rest is to turn of the | | | | glass heirloom ornaments. Decorate with the stuff |
| TV and hit the sack a half hour earlier. Every bit | | | | they bring home from school or religion. This is |
| counts. | | | | the real treasure anyway. Bake 2 kinds of holiday |
| 2. Take your vitamins. This is the time of year | | | | cookies instead of the usual load and buy the rest |
| when we overindulge on food, glorious food, and | | | | if need be. |
| you know I'm not talking about raw organic | | | | 5. Practice giving every day. The more you give, |
| vegetables. I take a women's multivitamin, | | | | the more you receive. This is a universal law. Give |
| calcium, magnesium, and zinc green, tea extract, | | | | a smile to the grouchy deli guy. Silently wish |
| fish, flaxseed, and borage oil, and vitamin E. Check | | | | happiness and abundance on everyone you |
| with your doc first though. | | | | encounter. Pay someone a compliment without |
| 3. Get at least 20 minutes of daylight on your | | | | expecting one in return. Also, by doing #1-4, you |
| retinas every day. This is huge. This means go | | | | are giving to yourself. When you love and serve |
| outside without sunglasses. Go get the mail, make | | | | yourself, you can better love and serve others. |
| a second trip for the newspaper, walk your kids | | | | |