All that hustling and bustling can sometimes turn us into a grinch. In fact holidays can be triggering for some and cause old emotional wounds to come up. According to Dr. Amen, some individuals who have anxiety or depression may find that their symptoms increase when the holiday season approaches. People who struggle with eating disorders or addiction also experience difficulties when the focus is on holiday meals and/or cocktails. Dr. Amen tells us that despite triggers, with a little planning, we can overcome holiday hazards and make the season more peaceful.

1. ’Tis the Season to be Stressed
Buying gifts, hosting lavish feasts, decorating—there’s a lot that goes into making the holiday season perfect. All of this added stress can take a toll on brain health and lead to increased vulnerability to mental health symptoms.

Holiday Helper: Stay grounded with a few minutes of daily meditation or prayer and don’t take on more projects than you can handle.

2. No...

We have a few days to go before Christmas and the hustle and bustle can certainly be stressful. However, there are ways to make your holidays more mindful and heartfelt. Here are some Intelligent tips you can start with.

Plan ahead and be more intentional
Planning ahead is the first step for staying more mindful, intentional, and focused on what is truly important. It gives you the time and energy to think of different ways you can make gifting and the overall festive experience more meaningful and joyful.

Take a notebook or use your Productivity Planner and make a list of everything you need to do, from planning holiday activities and meal preparation, to gift shopping. Then, explore your why behind giving the gifts and think of what is significant to the recipient. Reflect on these questions:

• How do you understand and measure the value of a gift?
• How can your appreciation and love be transformed into holiday gifts?
• How do you want to share your positive energy...