As we enter the month of December the feeling of free-floating anxiety is rising. There seems to be an unwritten rule that we must perform unusual social activities with our friends and casual acquaintances for the next few weeks in order to fulfill an invisible cultural norm.
This duty requires our appearance at social functions that are often scheduled to include potluck meals prepared with high-calorie foods that we prepare late at night with ingredients we normally wouldn’t purchase. We do this so that our potluck dish will be noticed among all of the other specially prepared meals. Of course, we also are socially obliged to eat portions of these dishes so that we can fulfill the invisible cultural norm.
As the month of Christmas-tide begins most of us make a mental resolution to manage our sleep routine so that getting enough much-needed shut-eye is a priority. However, bedtime bleeds into the wee hours as we try to check up on our emails. Since we are exhausted after a difficult day at the office most of us will try to catch a few winks on the couch before dinner – invariably then we can’t fall asleep at night. If we do manage to fall asleep all of the festive issues swirling around the season wash through our brain with worry and concern. When we can’t sleep we get out of bed, turn on the TV and watch the latest re-run of a 20 year old western even though we know that this artificial light interferes with our body’s production of melatonin.
So, now we have eaten too much unhealthy food, socialized with people we don’t know or even like and when we do finally get to bed, we can’t sleep. Does this sound familiar?
Take a breath. Understand that you can manage Christmas-tide because you have three tools on your December calendar. These tools will work well for you because you’re putting them to work early in the month. They’re easy and free. Since you know what’s coming in the Christmas-tide from your past experiences you’ll now be prepared to handle situations. These tools assist you when you feel the anxiety of the season.
- Schedule your time
- Eat healthy food
- Plan for setbacks
These three powerful tools may seem simple and logical but if you put them into practice NOW and physically write them on your December calendar you’ll be successful in using these expert tools. I know that you’ll make a mental resolution to write the physical words on your calendar or type them into your laptop but I want you to do it NOW. When you feel the anxiety, read the tools!
