Joy to the %&$*!

Ah,  yes. The Holidays are upon us. Full of fun and family and friends and feasting, and... stress. The "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" could become "The Most Murderous Time of the Year" if we don't keep ourselves in check. 

Dr. Alok Trivedi is a psychological performance coach and founder of the Aligned Performance Institute. He also wrote the book, Chasing Success. So, he must know stuff. He has eight tips for surviving the holidays. Oh, and so do we...

It’s ok to be Scrooge: If you just can’t get into the spirit of the season, don’t beat yourself up. The reality is that not everybody gets all excited over the holidays. Society makes you feel bad if you’re not into it, but it’s perfectly okay if you’re not. Stop judging yourself and don’t let other people get you down.

Crack Wise-dom: Yes! Be on the lookout for our "Eff Off" holiday cards.

Make time for solitude: The holidays bring more demands for our time. It’s parties, outings, travel, religious services, family get-togethers, people staying in our homes and more. Some people love this but others not so much. It’s important to carve out time to be by yourself. Even as little as 30 minutes per day can have tremendous benefits.

Crack Wise-dom: Perfect. Start the New Year's resolution early of running off into the woods forever. Or, until the new season of Stranger Things  comes out on Netflix.

Avoid emotional eating: This time of year, food is in abundance. Many of us tend to eat to handle the emotional chaos instead of addressing it. This only adds pounds and makes you feel even worse. If something is bothering you, don’t turn to food. Address it no matter how insignificant it may seem.

Crack Wise-dom: Uhm, the one thing we're good at is "eating our feelings." Don't be the aforementioned Scrooge and take that from us, bitch! That escalated...

Communicate with family & friends: Although the holidays are a stressful time, it’s people’s inability to communicate and make assumptions that gets them into trouble. It’s important to be on the same page as your family and friends otherwise there’s going to be resentment and chaos. Make an extra effort to communicate better and listen to others.

Crack Wise-dom: Only if copious amounts of alcohol are involved. At. Every. Course.

Know your limits: Life is challenging enough without having to worry about the holidays. Be realistic in terms of what you can and can’t handle. It’s nice to want to make yourself available to everything and everyone, but it’s also unrealistic and going to take a toll on your mental and physical health. Keep a calendar and stick to it. Learn to prioritize things and remember, there’s nothing wrong with saying ‘no.’

Crack Wise-dom: Five minutes on. Five minutes off. Like, we'll sit at the table for five minutes and endure the brow-beating and questions, then five minutes away from the table watching football. Or 9-1-1 is gonna be called.

Make a financial plan: Money is one of the biggest stressors of the holiday season. If you have to buy gifts, start putting money aside for this now so you’re not dipping into your checking or savings account, or worse, going into debt. Remember, it’s perfectly acceptable to cut-down on gift-giving and just give something small to those closest to you. 

Crack Wise-dom: “Borrowing” your credit card. No budget!

Have more sex: Yes, seriously! Sex is the most natural high in the world that releases feel-good chemicals in the brain. It can help boost your mood; reduce stress, worry and anxiety; help you stay connected with your partner; and it’s good exercise.

Crack Wise-dom: But not with the "forever friend zone friend" that's part of your Friendsgiving crew. Or that dude you call “uncle” that really isn’t your uncle….

Talk about your feelings: Not everyone experiences the joy of the season. Many of us are thinking about past holidays with loved ones who are no longer with us. Others are consumed by challenges going on in their lives right now. You may experience an array of thoughts and feelings and that’s perfectly normal. If you’re having trouble coping, don’t hold it in. Talk to a close friend, family member or mental health professional.

Crack Wise-dom: "George is getting angry!"
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Personally, we'd take our advice. Way more real...

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