How to Maintain Positive Thoughts Throughout the Holidays

The holiday season is a time of celebration, but it has another face. Memories, triggered by a number of familiar sights, smells and sounds, can be overwhelming. Moodiness, anxiety and depression are commonly heightened during the winter. Add to these the stresses of finance, travel, visiting relatives and messed-up schedules, and it can be difficult to keep a good attitude. Three things can help with the pressures of the holiday weeks.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Use a “touchstone” as a reminder. A touchstone is anything that triggers the mind to go in a certain direction. For the holidays, a good touchstone might be a small sculpture, a figurine, or a special rock. Give this touchstone its particular meaning by writing down the desired thoughts or moods on a card or sticky note, and placing the touchstone on top of the note. It is most effective placed next to the bed where it is seen first thing in the morning, with its reminder to choose the day’s thoughts and moods.

2. Make an agreement with a friend to check in regularly. Think of a friend who cares enough to listen to the day’s events. Make an agreement with this person to call each other regularly, perhaps two or three times a week, just to check in. Agree on the specific things to say to each other, and make this a mutual benefit. Take turns calling each other. This can often be quite hilarious, so allow for plenty of laughter and lightness.

3. Start a great new habit and get a jump on the New Year’s resolution game. Give the personal gift of a good habit long before the New Year rolls around. Committing to personal care is known to be a stabilizing force, and can be a lifesaver when there are lots of relatives around making demands. This new habit could be something like taking ten minutes twice a day to get out of the fray, away from the rest of the crowd and just be quiet and alone. Meditating is a great way to recharge the inner batteries, and can be done anywhere there is a quiet spot, even in the bathroom if necessary! A very easy way to meditate is to concentrate on a photograph of a beautiful place and pay attention to each breath. Doing this for ten minutes can change the entire day.

4. For the "Extremely Stressed Out," try doing all three of these things. Make a little touchstone to wake up to, enlist a friend to call as often as is appropriate through the holidays, and get trained to take daily self-care breaks. Write down the intention to do these things, and keep returning to them even if it takes a while to make them stick. Start with the touchstone so there is a reminder every morning.