Balance During the Holidays

Host: Juggling multiple projects this time of year might have you feeling a little bit crazed but it’s important to remember that this is your holiday too and you also need to enjoy the spirit of the season. Life and balance expert, Jennifer Touma Young is here with some ways to keep yourself from getting caught up in all the holiday madness and really get balanced to just kind of come back into what’s important right Jennifer? Jennifer: Absolutely. Get back to the basics. Have fun with the season and enjoy it instead of run, run, run. Host: Because it’s gone and then you look up and you’re exhausted and it’s like for what? Jennifer: Exactly, I think this time of year, the most important thing is to organize yourself right to do lists and there’s all these fun different kinds of to do lists if you go on Microsoftoffice.com. you can get things like grocery shopping lists where it organizes it by the aisle, by the sections of produce there so you go to the foodstore, you’re organized. You go have a gift shopping list. So you know who you’re buying for, you know what they want, you know where you’re going so ahead of time, you’re coming to the table and then there’s other websites that have templates and stuff so get yourself together. Write a to do list and if you smile while you write it-- Host: It gives you bonus points right? Jennifer: Bonus points exactly because there’s lots of stuff to do and then there’s always the pen and paper you don’t want to do that. Host: So you’ve got the water here with the lemon also. Jennifer: Yes, water is a great thing. And this time of the year, we’re not drinking a lot of it because we’re all cold and stuff. Room temperature water keeps you going, keeps your energy high naturally without all those caffeine drinks. Add a little zing with the lemon so that will help keep you balanced and energized. Host: You told me that the last time you came here, too, it works. Jennifer: I did and it does work. Host: It’s shocking your body with the cold water. This is good for organization right. Jennifer: we’re all having parties this time of year and like I said, you want to be your most organized self. So when you food shop for parties, what I like to do—these are a dollar a pack. So you get these little trays at the dollar store, WalMart, wherever and when you unpack your ingredients, you bundle them together in your fridge so you know what recipe ingredients are with what. You label them so when you’re going to cook, it makes it so much easier. Unpack, organize at the start. Host: The next few tips that you have are really cool. It’s give someone a nice compliment and then do something fun and silly for yourself. Jennifer: Give the gift of joy so complement someone sincerely. Even things like this where there’s whimsical overlays on photos. It’s a simple thing. They’re from JessicaMorrissey.com and you can just see the angel wings, the princess, these are sort of aged photos and the frames are also from the dollar store, you know budget conscious this year right and then this, do something silly. Have the bubbles in the house, have your props when people come in and make them wear the antlers. It’s fun, you take a photo. You have fun with it and you’re not so crazy and stressed. Host: You got the Huggies here this time this time around too. I know you’re talking about donating to—not only donating goods but also your time. Jennifer: Absolutely donating your time, donating shelter this year, we really need things like diapers. A lot of us take for granted these types of things. We bring in toys or we bring in canned goods but diapers and sanitary products are bit on the list this year. Host: I also love this, you’ve got the rocks here. It’s bringing nature in and you know it’s helping you with your next tips to say no things you just cannot handle. Jennifer: Exactly so you bring nature into your home, a little calming rocks. A water feature, some candles. Things that are calming naturally and you’ve got to say no. When you say no, you feel if you offer a solution, you’re going to feel better and you’re not going to fee as tapped out. We have a hard time as women saying no. Host: It just keeps getting better and better though. Jennifer: How many cookie exchanges can one woman do—if you say no, and you offer a solution instead, let’s do Dunkin Donuts munchkins. You don’t have to bake, you offered a solution and you’re saying no to the things that you just-- Host: It’s getting easier to say no. Drink that water. Jennifer, thank you so much, good to have you back. Jennifer: Thank you so much.