Happy Environmentally Friendly Holidays!
5 ways to keep your holidays eco-friendly, that you can take with you through the New Year and beyond.
How to Stay Sane During the Holidays
Blame it on the weather, but the holidays can be stressful (like when you plan a dinner for 10 and it turns into 16...or your flight gets delayed AGAIN...or you have to make 60 cookies for the holiday class party). But remember: every day (even the trying ones) is an adventure! Here are 7 tips for how to stay sane during the holidays—and beyond.
HYDRATE
Staying hydrated will do wonders for your mind and body. Keep a reusable bottle on hand and never forget the party rule: for every libation, chug a glass of water.
PEOPLE WATCH
Stuck at the airport or standing in the longest check-out line of your life? Avoid the temptation to look at your phone and watch your fellow human beings. It'll restore your faith in humanity...or at least be entertaining.
BREATHE
You've heard it before, but it's worth repeating. When you've just about had it to HERE, close your eyes and take 3 or 4 deep, slow breaths. The rush of oxygen triggers a dopamine release in your brain which makes you calmer.
FORGET THE PRESENTS
Ah, gift anxiety—not knowing what size to get, dealing with shipping, dealing with timing, spending lots of money—just don't do it. Instead you can donate to causes in people's names, write poems or heartfelt letters, or commit to an adventure in the spring. It really is the thought that counts.
RE-GIFT
Okay okay, we just said don't do presents. But if you must, feel free to re-gift wine you've gotten, jewelry you've never worn, your own personal copy of a book that you love... no shame in taking the sustainable route (PS—if you need to wrap, here's how to avoid the wrapping paper)!
WALK IT OFF
We can't stress this enough: Exercise makes you happy. Get your blood pumping at least a few times a week and you'll be happy every day (trust us, we are scientists). Stuck inside? Turn on your favorite tunes and dance it out. If you need a playlist, here's our Rock the Holidays playlist.
PRACTICE GRATITUDE
The key word is PRACTICE. It's easy to give thanks when things are going well. It's when things have fallen apart—the pies burned, the traffic is horrendous, you're on your second hour of the annual Smith Family political debate—that's when you practice gratitude and find something (ANYTHING!) to be grateful for. You'll find that it is, indeed, an imperfect but happy holiday!
