| 5 ways to survive the Holidays |

It came without ribbons, it came without tags, it came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore, Then the Grinch  thought of something he hadn't before, "What if Christmas, he thought doesn't come from a store, What if Christmas perhaps, means a bit more...The Grinch who stole Christmas.

For many of us the Christmas season is a time of merriment and cheer but for others, it can be a time of great stress and strain. Which is easy enough to have happen when we are bombarded day after day (even before December even hits in some places) of what presents to buy, parties to go to, costumes & activities children must have & attend for school, it's a non-stop circus act. So, I wanted to share 5 things I like to do at Christmas time to keep the strain at bay & to just enjoy the season. I hope they will help & feel free to share your tips in the comments too. Have a wonderful Monday dolls.

Loves & Loves
xoxo

1. Watch your favourite holiday movie - I love nothing more than to watch Christmas movies, in fact I watch my favourites all year round, they give such a great feeling. Some of my faves are The Grinch (both the Jim Carrey version & cartoon), Home Alone 1 & 2, It's a Wonderful Life, Love Actually, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, The Preacher's Wife, Scrooged to name some. I never get tired of these, each one brings a different feel.

2. Prioritize your health - Don't try to do everything at once, get enough sleep, try not to drink too much alcohol, keep eating healthy but, let yourself enjoy all the wonderful foods Christmas time brings. Keep active with exercise to keep the feelings of guilty feelings seasonal eating at bay. Get a good night's sleep. Don't be afraid to opt out of any parties/gatherings you do not feel like attending due to tiredness or strained relationships; your mental health is important too.

3. Go see Christmas lights or a nativity event. I never tire of the lights of Christmas, they make me so happy. The effort everyone makes in their displays is wonderful. Look out for special light events held in your city or town to attend. And have fun decorating your own home with lights, they really help lift the mood, especially when it's so dark just now. Christmas plays/Nativity events are so wonderful too (go to an event based on your own religious or non-religious beliefs, there is no written rules) I always attend my daughter's school programs & it doesn't take long before I'm teary watching all the children excited about their parts. There's always one child that screams all the words louder than everyone...I love those kids, ha! 

4. Buy yourself a gift Nothing wrong with treating yourself to a gift & I don't mean loads of things you don't need or so much that you forget others. But, something that means a lot to you or that you've really been wanting. A gift that even only you know about to enjoy on your own. It could be a book, a course you've always wanted to take, a trip, a item of clothing you've put off getting because you think you'd look bad in it when really it's your confidence you need to believe in. The love we share to others at this Christmas time is the love we ourselves need and deserve!

5. Volunteer at a homeless shelter or nursing home. As much as Christmas is about giving and love, it can also be a very materialistic & greedy season too. People lose their manners trying to get every last thing off the shelf before someone else does and can 'see red' when they get bumped into in the very slightest manner. Volunteering at a homeless shelter or nursing home is the perfect way to be reminded to be thankful for what we have & not just for what we might receive. Sometimes the greatest gift we can give is our love & time to those overlooked & forgotten. 

XOXOXOXO