Project U. Blog

How to De-Stress Your Holiday Season with Three B’s

Posted by Catherine Saar on Sun, Dec 02, 2012 @ 01:41 PM

Is your holiday to-do list growing out of proportion?  In addition to everything else you stressnormally do, you’ve probably strapped on parties, family gatherings, gift and card giving and some travel.  Who has time for all of that? It sounds exhausting!

Here’s an easy tool to help you get through it all while remaining master of your universe.

Simply apply the three B’s to your to-do list.  What are they? 

Better, Barter or Bag It!

Here’s how it works:

Better it:  You have an obligation that you are not looking forward to.  How might you make it better?  For example, if you’re going to visit the family members that you love, but who drive you crazy, can you limit the length of time you spend with them?  Could  you stay at a hotel or a friend’s house rather than sleeping over? Hate air travel?  Perhaps you can indulge yourself with a fabulous book, movie, or some other entertainment that turns your time into a mini-vacation. What about making that party a potluck instead of doing it all yourself?  Brainstorm! There are countless solutions and improvements you can find to make things better.

Barter it:  If there are items on your to-do list that you are not good at, or that you don’t enjoy doing, can you trade with someone else?  Perhaps you can pay someone to do the dreaded task (the teenager down the block can help hang the outdoor lights) or maybe you can swap with a friend or family member: “I’ll wrap your presents if you put the lights on the tree.” 

Bag it: If all else fails and you’re running out of steam, ask yourself, can you eliminate some items altogether?  Maybe your holiday cards become New Years cards that get written and mailed on January 1.  Or perhaps, you don’t need to host a 12-course meal for 50 people. 

The key to all of this is to keep doing the things you love and toss out or reinvent the things that you don’t – especially if they don’t matter as much – or at all.    It may feel a little odd at first.  You may even disappoint or bewilder a few people in your life when you start to balance self-care with doing it all. But just imagine, if you can de-stress and enjoy your holidays a little more, how worthwhile that could be. 

My guess is that your friends and family will enjoy you more too if you are more relaxed.  After all, it’s not what you do, but who you show up as - that matters most.

Happy Holidays!

Tags: de-stress, love, self care, friends and family, to-do list, indulge, New Years, balance, enjoy, happy, holiday

Stop Wasting Time Now!

Posted by Catherine Saar on Thu, Oct 13, 2011 @ 08:42 AM

What is the top goal you have for yourself?  Do you need to find a new job?  Stress less?  Earn more money?stop wasting time

Okay, sit quietly.  Be aware of your breath for thirty seconds and decide to release all that you don’t need.  Then visualize and feel the feeling you will get once you have accomplished your most important goal.

Got that feeling?  That picture?  Hold onto it.  Breathe it in, savor it. Breathe out and let it go.

Now, make a to-do list for today, or this week.  On it, include at least two important tasks that you can do that will help you get closer to your most important goal.

  • Look at your calendar. How can you make time today, or this week to get at least two of your goal related items started?  How much time can you give the important goal item today, or this week?  Start small if you need to.  Even fifteen minutes can be a great start!

Consider all of your time and how you spend it:

  • What things do you have to do (obligations and commitments) today or this week?  Are they important?  Must you do these things?  Do you want to do them?  Can they wait?

  • Are there less important things on your to-do list (or on your calendar) that can be postponed or eliminated? 

  • What less important things can you delegate or request of others? 

  • Allocate time to work toward your goals.  I don’t care if it’s think time, or gym time, or updating your resume; it doesn’t matter what it is. Schedule the time and stick to it, even if it’s only 15 minutes.   

At the end of this process, remember the feeling of satisfaction, happiness, ease, (whatever it is) that you felt when you pictured yourself having accomplished your goal. Enjoy it again.

Take a deep breath and get to work.  Start your day.  At the end of each day, ask yourself, did I invest time into the activities that are most important to me and will further my goals? 

If yes, give yourself a pat on the back. If not, ask why not?  What is getting in my way?  What can I shift or change in my life (or in my mindset) that will allow me to get to work on the things that what I care about?

Tomorrow, try it again.  Your time is your currency.  Invest it well.

Tags: new job, ease, change, goal, to-do list, accomplished, stress less, satisfaction, activities, invest, enjoy, happiness, more money, tasks