Hi Friend,

Ever notice how the busyness of the holidays can steal your joy and make the season a little less bright? Getting stuck in traffic, shopping and shipping delays, lack of sleep, no time to exercise, and eating on the go are the perfect recipe for holiday burnout.

If this sounds all too familiar, take heart. There are things you can do to bring the joy back to your world. Here are a few to consider:

• Praise – Remember the reason for the season. Give thanks for all good things, and when life gets stressful, remember a loving God is just a prayer away waiting for you to ask for help.

• Rest – Get good quality sleep and build in small moments of rest throughout the day. Feeling rested boosts productivity which is not to be confused with activity. Running from one thing to the next doesn’t guarantee you’ll be productive. Slow down, get things done, and enjoy your accomplishments.

• Breathe – You knew this would be on the list! If you need more energy, let your inhale be longer than your exhale. If you need to calm yourself down, let your exhale be longer than your inhale. Repeat for five to 10 rounds and then resume normal breathing.

• Disconnect – Stop working and scrolling through social media before dinner. Most days the work will wait, and you won’t miss what you don’t see on social.

• Sing – Tune in to a station playing holiday songs and sing along. Singing releases endorphins (feel-good chemicals) and is a natural stress buster. Have some fun as you belt out a tune!

• Resolve – To take care of yourself. Use some of the stress busters above or a few of your own. And make a plan to get back on track after the holidays. Give yourself the gift of good health by joining the L.I.V.E. Project program that starts on January 24. It costs less than a trip to Target!

Wishing you every happiness and that you enjoy every moment of the Christmas season making memories with the ones you love.

Merry Christmas,