5 Ways To Have A Joyful Holiday

Smart strategies to save your sanity and your spirits

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Happier holidays

Don't you want to be the kind of woman who can get through crazy times with an enviable, unflappable inner glow that seems to say, "It doesn't matter if dessert gets ruined or my to-do list is 7,000 items long," because you're, well, happy? That's who we all want to be during the holidays, and with these simple solutions, anyone can do it—including you. You'll soothe stress, feel your best, and learn to enjoy each moment. Most important, you'll make room for what the season is all about: joy.

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1. Use mantras to stay in the moment

Even if you finished gift shopping in October and have a freezer full of prebaked cookies by Thanksgiving, stress can cause minor annoyances to pile up. To stay calm and avoid losing your cool, try a little self-talk. These affirmations from Gabrielle Bernstein, the author of New York Times best seller May Cause Miracles, can help you reframe grating situations with gratitude.

You're stuck in line...
"I'm grateful for this moment to collect my thoughts."

The clerk is rude...
"I forgive you, and I release you."

You ruined dessert...
"I let go of expectations."

You didn't get the present you wanted...
"I am grateful for all the gifts in my life."


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2. Reboot your metabolism (and your mood)

Working out isn't just exercise, it's also your "me" time. So when your day gets packed and those trips to the gym drop off the schedule, it's not just your body but also your spirits that take a hit. Our fix? This 5-minute total-body routine created by Adam Rosante, founder of the People's Bootcamp in New York. Do it twice and you'll torch 100 calories.

How to do it: Perform each exercise for 60 seconds, moving as quickly as you can without sacrificing form. Rest 20 seconds after each move.

High-Knee Jump Rope
Targets: legs, core, arms
While pretending to jump rope, raise right knee as high as you can (pictured), then repeat with left knee, circling wrists, as though swinging a rope. Continue alternating knees with each jump.

Targets: arms, shoulders, core, chest
Start in push-up position, arms straight (drop knees to floor to modify). Extend left arm forward at shoulder height, palm facing in, as if clapping someone's hand across from you (pictured). Return left hand to floor and repeat on right side. Perform a push-up. That's 1 rep.

Power Lunge
Targets: thighs, butt
Start in lunge, right foot a few feet in front of left foot, left fingertips reaching toward floor on the inside of right foot, right arm behind body. Jump up, straightening right leg and raising left knee toward chest, swinging right arm overhead. Return to lunge and immediately go into next jump. Switch sides halfway through set.

3-Point Plank Hop
Targets: arms, core
Start in push-up position, arms straight. Keep palms flat on floor and jump feet to outside of right hand, then back to start. Repeat on left side. Jump feet between hands, bringing knees to chest, then back to start. That's 1 rep.

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3. Alleviate aches and pains

It's hard to bliss out when you're sore. Post-travel, try the Eye of the Needle Pose, says Katy Steadman of Bernal Yoga in San Francisco.

How to do it: Place right ankle on left knee. Lift left leg to 90 degrees and thread right hand between legs, grabbing left hand behind left thigh. Pull leg closer to body. Hold for 30 seconds; repeat on other side. (Try these 3 other post-travel stretches to feel better fast.)

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4. Know when to take a time-out

You know that moment when a conversation just...turns? When someone brings up a touchy topic or a simple chat becomes an inquisition, stay sane (and civil) with these time-out tips from life coach Sarah Olin, owner of Relax Already Yoga in New York.

If you need to end an escalating conversation:
Gently say to the person, "This is upsetting me. I need time to think about what you're saying." Then duck out discreetly. Give yourself at least 10 minutes. Go to the bathroom, where no one will bother you; find the kids and make it your mission to make them laugh; walk the dog—again; or offer to make a last-minute grocery run.

If you can't leave the scene:
Calm your nervous system with this simple technique, which you can do anywhere: Inhale for a count of 5. Hold for a count of 5. Exhale for 5. Hold for 5. Repeat 7 times.

More from Prevention: 10 Joyful Ways To Handle Holiday Grinches

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5. Focus on the upside of things

The silver lining to all those demands on your time? You'll burn a ton of calories* without even trying.

Chopping down a holiday tree or firewood: 237

Shoveling the driveway for 40 minutes (you'll burn 125 calories using a snow-blower): 300

Scrubbing the house vigorously for 2 hours, in preparation for the in-laws: 645

Parking at the farthest parking spot at the mall (and later walking back to your car with all your shopping bags): 75

Lugging your guests' suitcases upstairs: 100

Sprinting between terminals 1 and 3 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to catch a connecting flight: 118

*Calorie burn based on a 165-pound woman

More from Prevention: 31 Days Of Happy, Stress-Free Holidays

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