Five Ways to Find Balance during the Holiday Rush

Cooler temperatures and falling leaves mark the start of fall for many parts of the country. They also mark the start of a busy holiday season. From Halloween through New Year’s the holidays jump off the calendar in rapid succession.

It’s important to keep focused during these months and not lose your direction. With all the holiday fuss it’s easy to see the carefully orchestrated life-work balance you’ve maintained throughout the year get thrown out of kilter. Visiting with family and friends, spending time with your kids and finding time to enjoy a little bit of the holiday festivities can stress out even the most the best entrepreneurs.

Here are a few things you can do to combat the holiday rush:

Don’t neglect your health.  All of us know ‘tis the season for colds and flu. Keep antibacterial hand sanitizer handy for yourself and your family. Consult your doctor as to whether you should get any winter vaccinations. Most of all - make sure you are getting plenty of rest, eating healthy foods, and exercising.

Pay attention to your relationships.  In the maddening rush to get everything done, it’s far too easy to ignore those closest to you. Make time for your family. Participate in family traditions, or start new ones. Play a game with the kids, spend a cozy night with your significant other, or have coffee with a sibling or friend. The holidays will be gone before you know it. Make sure to spend time enjoying them with those closest to you.

Just say no.  The holiday season can quickly become filled with promises to bake goodies, sew costumes, drive to see relatives, go to parties, run errands, and a thousand other activities that suddenly crop up. It’s impossible to do everything. Decide what you truly have time for and want to do, and say “no”to the rest.

Explore.  Do something you want to do for the holidays. Look around your area for places you always meant to visit. Maybe your local parks and recreation department offers holiday classes you’ve wanted to check out. Often they offer day trips this time of year--you could see New York in its holiday-decorated splendor. Make your own adventure!

Have fun.  Play football. Kick the pile of leaves. Make your own wrapping paper. Sing carols. Make snow angels. Laugh, giggle, and be silly. Don’t let the mad holiday rush make a Grinch out of you.

However you choose to spend the holidays, whether it’s enjoying time with family or friends or grinding out a few more hours at the office, make sure to take care of yourself. You just might find that a little balance in your life can make you happier and more productive.