This Week with Sara Fitts celebrates Thanksgiving Week.  It's hard to believe how fast time is going by - and that Thanksgiving is here!  I'm sitting here reflecting on all the things - and people - that I'm thankful for.  But in addition to being thankful - the stress of the holidays often shows up when we least need it.  And this post is going to address the stress - and how to (hopefully!) keep it at bay.

• Have a standing appointment with yourself.  Do something every single day just for you.  It can be reading - even a chapter or a few pages of a novel.  It can be listening to music - even if it's just one or two songs.  It can be a short walk - or a few minutes in your favorite chair - just listening to the quiet.  Make this a priority, and I guarantee that you'll have less stress.
• Eat a healthy diet.  Eat more of the healthy foods and eat less of the foods that aren't good for you.  "All things in moderation" can be a good guide here.
• Exercise.  An hour workout 3 times a week is fabulous if you can do it; however, even a little exercise every day is helpful.  Do what you can do to move more.  While brushing your teeth, you can do balance exercises by raising one foot at a time.  You can dance to good music once a day - even if for one song.  When you park your car, pick a parking space that requires some walking.  The bottom line is this:  move around as much as you can.
• Drink more water.  Water is one of the best ways to de-tox your body.  Try it and see what happens.
• Protect yourself.  If you can't do something, say "no."  If you can't talk right now, let the voicemail work for you.  If you need a minute, take one.  If you need to breathe, stop and breathe.  I don't mean avoidance here - just managing your stress and emotions. 
• Don't procrastinate.  Stop putting off things that must get done.  As my dad used to say, "Stop talking about it and just get it done!"  These words have helped me reduce my stress more than anything else.
• Smile - even at strangers.  As you walk down the street, to your bus stop, or from the parking lot - smile.  Smile as much as you can.  It makes other people smile, too.  It also makes your day better.  And your face will have less stress, too, because frowning uses more muscle-movement than smiles do!  :)
• Plan.  A lot of frustration - especially around the holidays - is caused when we say yes when we want to say no.  So plan how you want to spend your holidays, and plan what your answer will be when someone asks you to do something you may not want to do. 

These eight suggestions listed above serve as my Simple Little Formula for handling holiday stress.  Try it and see if this Simple Little Formula helps you. 


Sara L. Fitts is a teacher, coach, and motivator who designs and develops Simple Little Formulas for Success.  Visit www.SLFConsulting for more information.  You may contact thecoach@SLFConsulting.com to schedule a free 30-minute session.