Stress-Free Holidays

Fitness beauty Nicole Wilson shares with us her tips for managing the holidays the stress-free way. Take it away Nicole.

Red cups, holiday baking, gift wrapping and the in-laws are on their way. It’s that time of the year, schedule overload! Before you hit the panic button here are a few tips to help you beat stress this holiday season.

1. Say No! If you are people pleaser, no isn’t easy. Say yes only when you are sure you have time to prevent feeling guilty about over-promising.  It’s okay not to be superwoman and your friends won’t mind if you politely decline their dinner party.

2. Jot it Down. Keep a calendar and pen handy in your purse. This way you can get in the habit of writing down your appointments. Visually tracking your schedule will help keep you from over promising and allow you to keep commitments you've made to yourself which brings me to number three.

3. Schedule Y-O-U Time. Yes, it seems impossible but grab a girlfriend, yoga mat, your kids skipping rope or hula hoop and schedule (in pen!) at least 30 minutes of exercise a few times a week. Releasing tension and talking can help prevent any anxious feelings. Writing these down at the beginning of a week helps you stay committed to making time for yourself.

4. Prep Food. Take an hour twice a week and cut up a bunch of fruits and veggies. By having healthy options at your fingertips will keep you from falling prey to the drive-thru and feel guilty about it later. This means one less thing to stress about.

Baby steps like these (and deep breaths) will make this time of year must more manageable. Start making small changes and incorporate a few of these tips and you will find yourself a lot happier and a lot less stressed.