“One has to find a balance between what people need from you and what you need from yourself.” — Jessye Norman
Ahhh, the holidays. The time of year that can bring a whole lot of smiles, happiness, togetherness and warmth…or a whole lot of stress, short tempers and overspending.
One of the main sources of stress that I see at this time of year is the pressure to get a lot done and to take care of a lot of other people, from the needs of elderly family members to attending the kids’ school plays and concerts, often at the expense of down time, self-care time, peaceful time sitting by the hearth. Doesn’t a warm cup of holiday cheer sound good right about now?
To Do: It’s all up to you—or at least more so than you think. This year, set some limits that make you feel good. Take some breaths. Take the dog for a walk. Take a long hot bath. Take care of you, and you’ll find that it’s much more pleasurable taking care of others when you feel filled up yourself.