Poor December. It seems to be the month that gets a bad wrap. Somehow it’s become notorious for rushing, Falalalalaling (yes, that’s a word), the onslaught of cold and flu season, overindulgence in every sense of the word- not to mention the year drawing to a close.

You friend, may not 100% immune to overwhelm. However, I’ve got ten tips to help you insulate yourself from demanding schedules and the seasonal fuss.

1- Eat and drink for healthy merriment.

I refuse to play “food Nazi” role. I believe celebrations call for special foods and drink. This being established, let me level with you. If you are invited to a White Elephant gift exchange party, it’s highly likely there’s going to be a lot of sugar and processed foods (think melted cheese dip). And, seriously, since you’re so likable, you won’t just attend one party, you’ll attend four or more and probably host one of your own.

So here’s my point– enjoy a little party food; just go in prepared like a paratrooper not a party pooper. Go in having nourished your incredible machine with lots of servings of fiber and Vitamin C. Give your body a little digestion vacay by drinking some delicious protein shakes before joining your tribe. And by all means­– don’t forget the water. Push the water to flush out toxins. If you really want to be on top of the game, why not savor some love tea?

2- Communicate freely, listen deeply.

Often we’ll find ourselves in overwhelm because we aren’t sharing our intentions clearly with those we love. Take time to communicate what’s going on with you. Especially share where you feel you are having to skate around circumstances that are a bit tricky. Then say “ah” or “a-ah”.

Take some time to listen intently to those around you. What stories are they sharing? What is it they are overcoming? Are they stressed out? Peaceful? What can you learn? How can you affirm them? The process of listening is empowering. Make it something that helps you become more centered­– simply by staying present.

3- Make time each day for a “fill up”.

How do you get a “fill up?” Do you take a prayer walk? Do you snuggle with your favorite person or critter? Do you read something inspiring while sipping your favorite beverage?

During the hustle and bustle, take that special time for you. Running on fumes is no fun. Keep a full tank so you can continue humming along with joy and intention.

4- Ditch perfection and have a laugh instead.

This past Thanksgiving I tenderly handcrafted a scrumptious gluten free pumpkin pie with an irresistible ginger snap crust. It was the mother of all pumpkin pies!

When the timer chimed I asked my husband to take it out of the oven because I was busy prepping other food. Before he even opened the oven, he asked, “Why are you baking this at 450 degrees?” And then I knew. It was burned. Yep, 100 degrees over what it should have been. Lesson learned. Always double-check the temperature. Always. 🙂

I had a decision to make. Cry or laugh. I seized the opportunity to realize my humanness, yet again. My husband took pity on me and I got a big bear hug and we laughed together. Our “perfect“ Thanksgiving dinner could not be ruined by imperfection.

I’m telling on myself because I found that majoring on a minor thing can be overwhelming. It’s much healthier to have a good laugh and move on.

5- Play the Gratitude Sandwich Game

Think of the problem and solution being like two pieces of bread. Then sneak in some gratitude and there you have it. A sandwich to sustain your perspective. Time spent in developing countries with opportunities to volunteer or work has gifted beyond measure. I call this gift the “gratitude sandwich”.

Here’s how we play it. Slow Internet? No worries. I’m grateful to own a computer which means I’m literate. Life is good.

Bland dinner? Thank you God I have food to eat. I am not the statistic of being one in every eight people on Earth going to bed hungry each night.

Forgot to brush your teeth as you bolted out the door this morning? No worries. I give thanks. Your bad breath is better than no breath at all.

See, isn’t that better? Gratitude sandwiches seem to solve a lot of “problems.”

6- Prioritize and stick to it!

Having priorities is like having an oxygen tank when deep sea diving. It’s a life necessity. Think about your priorities. Are you giving your top five priorities  the time and attention needed to avoid feeling incongruent?

We’ve all seen or heard it. A public announcement is made during a wedding ceremony. For better or worse. And somehow within a few years something is unraveled and poof the relationship is dissolved.

Let’s not be the ones for example who say, “my priorities are God, family, work” and then be the one who turns into a workaholic forgetting to stand, sit and snuggle alongside our favorite human. Instead when we sense overwhelm coming on, let’s remember what matters most and stick to our guns (and no, that was not a subliminal push for the NRA, duct tape or crazy glue).

Talk to me in the comments below. Any tips you want to share in how you handle overwhelm. We want to know! Or, are you planning on using one of these six tips this December? If so, tell me about it.