DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY

How to survive the upcoming holidays without having to check into your local psychiatric ward. (And if you're lucky you might make it into the New Year!)

In & Out

Step one: breathe in. Now breathe out. Repeat. You already feel better don't you? Yes, this is a stressful time of the year, what with all of the parties, dinners, shopping trips and organizing to be done. But by taking a few minutes out of your day to take a few deep breaths and calm down, you can really change your outlook.

Excess Baggage

We know you like to have a good time. And we know you've got a daily planner jam-packed with parties...but that doesn't mean you have to be at all of them! Try not to overload yourself with too many events and get-togethers, you social butterfly you. Narrow down the invitation list to the truly important. Packing your schedule may provide a plethora of fun, but it also packs on the stress levels. Don't wear yourself too thin by being everywhere and doing everything; you'll thank yourself later. (Plus you'll avoid that tired, worn-down look that comes along with stress...who wants that in their pictures?)

Tic-Toc

Time flies! So make the most of it by taking the time to get yourself together. Brush the dust off of that organizer you swore you would use (but have yet to open), or make the most of the daily planner in that smart phone of yours and get organized! One of the best ways to handle stress is to be prepared, and by knowing exactly what's going on and when, you can better brace yourself for it. Schedule your time- it can help you avoid stressing situations (two events on the same night!) and keeps you aware of everything that needs to be accomplished, and when.

Burn, Baby, Burn

You want to avoid that. Unless of course it's because you look smokin' in that party get-up of yours (which, in fact, is perfectly acceptable). Burnout, however, is not. It is quite common for people to over-stress themselves this time of the year, be it by taking on too much, trying to put on the 'perfect' occasion, or simply by never taking the time to slow down. So do just that and take a 'me' break. Read a book. Have a nap. Go for a run. Do whatever it is you need to do to take your mind off of things for a while. Even a few minutes each day of just sitting and taking a breather can help you avoid succumbing to that dreadful b-word.

You Only Live Once...

..So embrace it! Yes, there is a lot going on, but you need to try and remain positive when faced with your holiday schedule. If you treat each occasion as something else on your list of things to do, you'll never be able to fully enjoy them. Learn to live in the moment a little, and appreciate each special event while it's happening. You'll be able to look back on your holidays with pleasant memories, instead of those filled with negative thoughts and stress-induced hair pulling.