No matter where you stand this year, it’s important to realize that we cannot control everything, we can minimally control others, and then there is what we CAN control.  What we CAN control, and of that what is important in our lives, is really what we need to focus on.

The biggest important thing that we can control is our mindset.  The upcoming holidays are tough: they’re stressful, they’re supposed to be cheerful, and they’re a LOT of work.  They’re also a lot of fun.  Focus on the fun, and focus on your mindset.

Here are a few quick tips to help you focus on a positive, grateful mindset this holiday season.

• Practice gratitude:  What is 1 thing you can be thankful for each morning?  Each evening?   Spend 2 minutes each morning and evening feeling gratitude for something, whether it’s the fact that you woke up this morning, that you have food in your fridge, or that you crushed your workout!
• Have a plan:  Take 5 minutes before you go to bed each night to plan your day out tomorrow.  Run your day or your day will run you.  What are the three most important things you need to do tomorrow?  If you check off most of your to-do list, that’s something to be grateful for!
• Drink water!  Your body is mostly water and you’d be surprised how much water you aren’t drinking, even in the winter.  Dehydration can lead to brain fog, which can cause stress.  How much water should you drink:  take your weight in lbs, divide that in half, and that’s how many ounces you should drink.  For example, if you weigh 160lbs you should aim to drink 80oz of water daily.