How to Stay Sane During an Insane Time of Year

December is typically one of the most stressful months out of the year for all of us. Holiday shopping, decorating, visiting, partying, eating, traveling, cooking, drinking... it's exhausting. Fold in reminders of who is no longer with us, who we really would rather not deal with, and who oversteps boundaries and it can all feel like... too much.

That's because it is.

It's crucial this time of year to maintain our own boundaries, both mental and physical. We don't have to attend every event we're invited to. We also don't have to attend gatherings at the expense of our mental health.

What we can do instead is think through our own limitations in advance and stay true to them, like:

1) Preset your spending limit. Throwing extravagant gifts at someone is not, in fact, a form of love: it's a form of debt-in-the-making. While we all have different budgets, it's never wise or beneficial to spend way more than we can just because we want to impress someone. (And if that's how we're trying to impress someone? That's a flag on its own.) Instead, think through how much you can afford to spend per person and stick to it. Focus instead on quality time together. That's more memorable anyway.

2) Plan your activities, including downtime. We all need downtime and the excesses of the holidays make it even more necessary. Block out times when you're simply not available and unplug for a bit. Nap, meditate, take a bath or a long walk - anything. Just give yourself time and space to not be giving the last bits of your energy to others. This will help you feel better in person and not so drained that you can't enjoy being present.

3) Be sure to eat your veggies and drink plenty of water. This may sound obvious but this time of year is sugar overload. Those sugar highs and lows can completely mess with our sleep cycle and make us feel even more drained or jittery - or worse, a weird combination of the two. Be sure to fit in greens and unsweetened grains or proteins in your meals to keep you feeling your best. It will also make those New Year's resolutions less daunting come January 1st. Similarly, drink plenty of water, particularly when alcohol is involved. It's totally fine to enjoy drinks with friends and family but alternate alcohol with water to help prevent next-day regrets.

4) Say no. As we said in the opening, we don't have to attend things we simply don't want to. No is a complete sentence and we don't need to explain. It's the season of giving but not at personal expense. It's not authentic anyway. Say no and learn to cherish quality over quantity. This is even more important if we're struggling with loss or major life change. If we're not up to attending, we don't have to. It's truly as simple as that.