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STRESS MANAGEMENT How To Break Through Fear in Turbulent Times Solving Problems in a High-Stress Environment Break Through Self-Doubt & Fear Make 2004 your Year of Organization Manage Stress by Stopping Obsessive or Unwanted Thoughts Stress; Control It, Change It or Let It Go! Tips for Managing Holiday Madness Modern Day Stressors: What Stress Looks Like in the 21st Century The Life Juggle: How to Find Lifework Balance
CHANGE The Questions Leaders Should Ask Themselves about Change The Top Ten Ways to Manage People through Change
RUNNING A BUSINESS Be Heard. Be Strong. Be Effective. How to Deliver Impressive Presentations Getting Started in the Speaking Business: Answers to Burning Questions What Entrepreneurs Need to Know to be Successful How to Create and Maintain Culture as You Grow Recruitment and Retention of Diverse Candidates
DIVERSITY Traits of a Diverse Organization Simma's Holiday Diversity Q and A How to Go from Eggshell Walking to Multicultural Festivity Making Are You Wasting Your Money on Diversity Training? Interview Bias: Overcoming the Silent Forces Working Against You How to Help LGBT Employees Help Your Organization Grow How to Integrate Diversity Into Your Business Strategy Diversity Benefits Organizations and Communities 10 PC Tips for Communicating with a Diverse Audience Interviewing Employees Who Stay Wage and Position Disparity Across Gender What Every Consultant Needs to Know About Diversity Consulting and Training Diversity Competency Assessment Recruitment and Retention of Diverse Candidates Understanding Diversity Dialogues Dialogue as a Communication Tool Amongst Diverse Groups of People Communicating across Generations in the Workplace Simma & Kate's Strategies for Cross-Generational Relationship Building Valuing Diversity during the Holidays
COMMUNICATION Understanding Dialogue: A Q&A on the benefits of dialogue Dialogue as a Communication Tool 10 PC Tips for Communicating with a Diverse Audience Tips for Better Communication Between Men and Women in the Workplace Understanding Diversity Dialogues Dialogue as a Communication Tool Amongst Diverse Groups of People Simma & Kate's Strategies for Cross-Generational Relationship Building
GENDER COMMUNICATION Differences in Male and Female Communication Styles Gender Communications Differences and Strategies Wage and Position Disparity across Gender Tips for Better Communication between Men and Women in the Workplace
WORK/LIFE BALANCE Life/Work Balance in the Real World New Year's Resolutions: A New Approach? Working with Loved Ones: Leverage Potential and Avoid Pitfalls Modern Day Stressors: What Stress Looks Like in the 21st Century The Life Juggle: How to Find Lifework Balance
RESTAURANT & HOSPITALITY
Are You Truly Successful?
FEAR & SELF-DOUBT |
TIPS FOR MANAGING HOLIDAY MADNESS by Simma Lieberman While the holiday season can be joyous
fun and exciting, many people equate it with stress, chaos and expense
in terms of time and money. Here are some tips for changing holiday
madness into the season of serenity. 1. Practice conscious breathing exercises now ten minutes a day. This
will keep you calm and relaxed through the end of the year. Any time
you feel overwhelmed or stressed, taking a few deep breaths will help
you separate mentally and emotionally from the stresses. This is particularly
helpful when dealing with demanding relatives, friends, or coworkers
who want you to come to their house or - worse! - go to yours. 2. Make a list of everyone you need to buy gifts for. Buy everyone gifts from the same store (e.g., bath and body lotions, candles, books), shop on the Web from one mall site, or buy everyone magazine subscriptions. Get a couple of extra gifts with blank cards so you won't be embarrassed if someone you forgot or don't like buys you a gift. 3. Schedule your activities in advance.
Break projects into small steps so you won't feel like a failure if
you don't get the whole project done. It's easier to berate yourself
for one small failure. Actually, to do lists that are workable gives
you more of a sense of control. Have pot luck meals so you don't have
to do all the cooking. You can always dine out every day and worry
about credit card debt next year. 4. It's okay to refuse invitations, particularly from friends and
family who create stressful environments for you. Forcing yourself
to spend time with them will only interfere with your serenity. The
holiday season is only once a year. Why should you be miserable? 5. Let go of the things you can't control. If you do accept those
stressful invitations, remember you can't control the behavior and
attitudes of those people around you. You can't control their drinking,
smoking, eating or inappropriate remarks. Its not your fault if your
first cousin loudly insults the rest of the family. This is the time
to remember your deep breathing exercises. 6. Stop comparing yourself to other people. This will kill any chance
you have for holiday serenity. Think about how you want your season
to be, what you want to do, and how you want to feel on any particular
day. Then focus on making that happen for yourself. When you find yourself
comparing yourself to others, remind yourself that they may look perfect
but they're all probably miserable inside. 7. Schedule some time in your appointment book to be alone. When you
consciously plan to have alone time, it keeps you empowered and reduces
possible feelings of melancholy during the holiday season. You will
also be also be less overwhelmed by external stimuli. Besides, when
you begin to feel good about being alone, everyone will call and e-mail
you to make demands on your time. 8. If you are worried about being lonely, call friends now to schedule.
Plan to participate in rituals or spiritual/religious gatherings. Make
a list of all the things you could do to pamper yourself and just haven't
had the time for. 9. Give yourself permission not to participate in holiday activities.
Go away or get some good books to read. By not spending money on other
people you'll have more for yourself. The holiday season comes every
year. It's fine to miss this year. 10. Think about the things that made you
happy last year and plan on continuing them next year. Think about
the people and activities that created stress and unhappiness and plan
to eliminate them this year. If those people create stress all year
eliminate them from your life if you can. You can't control everybody and everything
in your life. Learn to let go of other people's judgements as to how
you spend your holidays. They do not pay your bills, or live in your
body. The holidays this year are particularly stressful for many people.
Take some time to think about the people you love and care about. Give
them the gift of a phone call or note just to let them know how important
they are to you.
Simma Lieberman works with people and organizations to create environments where people can do their best work. She specializes in diversity, gender communications, life-work balance and stress, and acquiring and retaining new customers. You may reprint these articles free of charge, on a non-exclusive basis, provided that Simma Lieberman's name and contact information are included. She would love to know that you plan to use her article(s); please contact her to let her know.
Call Simma at 510.527.0700 or Email simma@simmalieberman.com
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