I was talking with a friend during after-school hours at the playground today. She mentioned that she has been struggling with this in-between time of year — with winter not fully arrived and autumn’s warmer and more colorful days long past.

Lately, I’ve been finding myself in a lot of conversations like this. But as we talked this afternoon, I began to think that there may be more to this “betwixt and between” feeling, that so many moms I know are experiencing, than simply the change of seasons.

Regardless of our individual life stories, a thin veil of anxiety and worry appears to be hanging over most of us. And it’s really no wonder. The economy comes up in almost every hockey-rink-sideline chat I’m involved in. Either a friend’s husband just got laid off, or a couple someone knows is in deep water with a home they can’t sell in a town where they can’t find work. Of course we’re on edge!

If the bottom hasn’t already dropped out from under us, we’re afraid it might happen at any time. That feeling of security – and perhaps naivety – that we enjoyed only a few months ago is now a happy memory. We’re worried about our jobs, our savings, our homes, and our futures. 

So if it’s not just a Vitamin-D deficit, and the uncertainty of the economic climate is really what’s bugging us, then how do we get out of our funk in time to enjoy the holidays?

I think that the answer lies in two life skills that I’ve personally been working on for years: letting go of fear and learning to adapt readily to change.

If we can accept that we don’t have control over most things in our lives — even though we like to think that we do — then we will be less attached to each situation’s outcome. And if we’re less attached to the outcome, then maybe we’ll be better equipped to ride whatever tide comes our way.

As for the holidays …. maybe we can start trying to see uncertainty as one of this season’s mysterious gifts. 

Christmas is really all about love (in the active tense). And we love most effectively in the here and now. Perhaps that uneasiness we feel about not-knowing-what’s-coming-next should be a cue to us to embrace the moment that we’re in – and to celebrate, more earnestly than ever, the love that we share with our families, our friends, and our neighbors.

With a rather indulgent Thanksgiving weekend just behind me and several weeks of holiday reveling waiting in the wings, I am trying to strike a healthy balance between celebration and responsibility.

I’ve read plenty of magazine articles that purport the idea of actually dieting during the holidays. A trick that one writer suggested (and one that I’ll never forget) was to eat a bowl of cereal prior to attending a social gathering. That way, party-goers won’t be tempted to eat all of those delicious, once-a-year goodies. The self-deprivation approach may work for some, but it definitely isn’t for me.

I have always been a believer in embracing life to its fullest – and that certainly means drinking a little eggnog and eating a few Christmas cookies every December. But I also know that I need to take care of my body to be able to enjoy all of the other fun activities of the season. 

Here’s my plan for enjoying some of the decadent food and drink of the season, while still making some healthy decisions for my body:

Water

An herbalist once told me that, based upon my body weight, I should be drinking about 80 ounces of room-temperature water per day. I rarely do. But with the heat in my house cranking, this is a good time of year to start. From my hands to my eyes, I’m definitely in need of better hydration. And it’s such an easy lifestyle adjustment to make. Although I crave warm beverages (like tea and hot chocolate) as the temperatures drop, I will try and balance those mugs of steaming beverages with plenty of water.

More Tea – (And Less Coffee)

Most health experts agree that too much caffeine is not a good thing. I really enjoy a cup of coffee first thing in the morning. But there’s no reason it can’t be mostly decaf. When I buy coffee these days, I try and fill my bag with 3/4 decaf beans and 1/4 regular beans. That way, I can drink more than one cup (which I always do) and not do a number on my body. If I need a little pick-me-up later on, then a cup of black tea seems to be a healthier choice. And herbal tea, of course, is probably the best.

Fresh-Air Exercise

Depending upon the weather, this can be a very tempting time of year to exercise indoors, if at all. But I think that there are untold benefits to breathing a little fresh air while we move our bodies. A daily run or walk definitely keeps my energy up and probably helps me make other good-for-my-body decisions throughout the day.

Warm Baths

At the end of the day, I need a little treat for myself. But I’ve learned that it doesn’t have to be something sweet. Slipping into a hot bath with a cup of herbal tea and a gigantic glass of water by my side, I can completely skip that scoop of ice cream or handful of chocolate chips. Plus, I’m relaxed and ready for bed at the end of it .. which leads me to my last tip for good health this holiday season.

Quality Sleep

If I’m tired, then I tend to lose my focus when it comes to healthy habits. I am more likely to eat too many sweets, drink too much caffeine, and not exercise enough. So ensuring a good night’s sleep is key to optimal health. This time of year in particular, I try to read something uplifting before bed … like an inspiring Christmas story or poem. And before tucking in for the night, I do five or six nice, long stretches, take some deep breathes, and then say a prayer for all of my loved ones. It’s a really nice way to end the day.

So there. The holidays really do come but once a year. I hope that my little plan will keep me feeling good so that I can enjoy every last minute of it — eggnog and all!

The holiday season has officially arrived. The local radio station is playing 24-hour Christmas music from now until New Years. My kids are becoming at home in the storage room, pulling out their favorite decorations and dispersing them around the house. And the pile of shopping catalogs on the kitchen counter grows exponentially each day. 

These glossy little magazines have become as much a part of the prelude to Christmas as the twinkle lights that we string on the bushes or the wreath hung on the door. If left out in the open, these toy-filled magazines become my kids’ reading material of choice. They sneak them into their rooms, and only a glow from their flashlights can be seen through the bedcovers as they peruse the pages after lights-out. 

The Christmas Wish List is as etched into the holiday experience as Santa, himself. But this year, in particular, families will struggle with the tug between tightening purse strings and the consumer expectations that permeate the holidays. What is a parent to do when the pressure’s on and the pocketbook is lighter than usual?

Here are a few tips for toning down the “gimme” aspect of Christmas, in favor of traditions that will far outlast the latest fad in gadgetry:

Hide the Catalogs (or throw them away) 

Flip through them, perhaps, for that first “Yea! Christmas is here!” rush – and then put them away. In their place, go to the library and check out a few great holiday picture books for the kids and some inspirational reading for yourself. I read Leo Buscaglia’s book, Seven Stories of Christmas Love, every year. Pick up Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol or a holiday craft guide. It doesn’t matter. The point is to fill your home with good, wholesome reading material that helps you focus on the magic of the season.

Turn on the VCR

When you were a kid, you had to patiently wait to see your local television network’s special presentation of Frosty the Snowman. Not anymore! Now, you can just pop in your own copy or grab one at the video store whenever you like. So instead of subjecting the family to the thousands of toy commercials that litter the screen, it’s time to break out the VCR or DVD player. Pop some popcorn. Make it a family movie-night. Or not. Just take advantage of all of the great, pure holiday entertainment out there — without the distracting advertisements.

Make Memories

If you spend less time shopping this holiday season, then you’ll have more time for having experiences together as a family. Get outside, and make some memories. Whether you hit up the local sledding hill or get the neighborhood kids together for a game of touch-football, the point is to shift the household energy away from “things” and towards “people.” What better way to do that than by spending quality time together as a family and a community?

String Popcorn (or do something else crafty)

Turn on the Christmas music, rally the kids together, and make something. Baking Christmas cookies can provide enough entertainment for an entire afternoon. And then you can even pack them up and give them away as gifts. From gingerbread houses to Christmas ornaments to holiday place-mats, the options really are endless. 

Adopt a Family

Just when you thought you really needed that fancy new digital something-or-another, you encounter someone whose child doesn’t have a winter coat. There are a number of holiday outreach programs that help provide Christmas for low-income families. Empower your kids by teaching them the deep satisfaction that only comes from giving to those in need.