For the last three mornings, I’ve woken up with the holiday song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” going through my head. (Those store soundtracks have an insidious way of taking over your brain!)

My spontaneous rebuttal is “It’s the most STRESSFUL time of the year.”

While this can be a fun and fulfilling time, it can also be a time of great challenge. Depression is higher during the holiday season than during any other time of the year.

Is there a better way to live through the holidays so that you plug into the “fun and fulfilling” part and lessen the “stressful” part?

I’ve been exploring that myself this year, as I’ve been feeling some sadness these past few weeks. I’m missing my parents and some dear friends who’ve passed away over the past years, and I’m not in a primary relationship, which can make me feel a bit lonely during the holidays. Yet, I still want to keep my heart open and expanded during this time.

I’ve found a holiday prescription that’s working for me and can also work for you.

It’s based on dealing with the five main sources of stress that can lead to the holiday blues.

Those Five Main Sources of Stress Are:

1. Overconsumption: We tend to over-shop, overeat, overdrink, over-everything! Can you relate?

2. Loneliness: This is time when we can feel most isolated or alone, even if we’re surrounded by lots of people.

3. Time Pressure: In the mad rush of the season, we stop taking care of ourselves.

4. Financial Stress: No need to explain this!

5. Loss of Perspective: With such an emphasis on buying the right gifts, having the right clothes for parties and gatherings, and finding the right ingredients for our holiday meals, we often lose perspective on what really brings fulfillment.

Now, here are The Top Five Tips to Make It Through the Holidays, keeping your heart open and your joy flowing.

1. Connect to Your Heart

When you find yourself reaching for that fifth gingerbread man or cup of eggnog, stop and take a few deep breaths in and out of your heart. For extra power, place your hand over your heart to stimulate the happiness chemical oxytocin.

2. Find Community and Support

If you’re alone, make sure you seek out people to spend time with. Don’t isolate yourself. Once you have people around you, focus on the ways you appreciate and enjoy them rather than getting stuck in your judgments or criticisms. Yes, family can bring up your “stuff,” but see it as an opportunity to work on your limiting patterns and let love prevail.

3. Take Time for Yourself

In the midst of the holiday whirl is when we MOST need to set aside time to take care of ourselves. One of my favorite ways is to take a fifteen-minute hot bath with sea salt and lavender oil at night to relax. It feels delicious, and it rebalances the body’s energetic field.

4. Serve Others

Giving of your time and your heart to serve others who are in need will help take your attention off of the desire to overconsume. Altruism and service are a fast track to heart opening.

5. Go Spiritual

The time around the winter solstice, when there’s more darkness, is actually a very spiritual time. Take the opportunity to go inward—meditate or connect with spirit in any way that works for you. Spiritual practice is the best antidote I know of to help you keep balance and perspective during the craziness of the season.

With some gentle attention on these five tips, you’ll find yourself humming “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and meaning it.

May this season be nurturing and joyful for you.

Marci Shimoff is a #1 New York Times best-selling author and world-renowned transformational teacher. Her books include the international bestsellers Love for No Reason and Happy for No Reason. She is also the woman’s face of the biggest self-help book phenomenon in history as co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul series. With book sales of more than fifteen million copies worldwide in thirty-three languages, Marci is one of the best-selling female non-fiction authors of all time. She is also a featured teacher in the film and book sensation The Secret. Marci is dedicated to helping people live more empowered and joy-filled lives. You can also follow Marci on Facebook and Twitter.

*Photo by Stuck in Customs.

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