This is also the time of year when many people experience high levels of stress. The duties of hostess and host can be overwhelming. A couple used to feeding just two, can be faced with dinner for twelve, plus four children...EEEK! Then there are the mall struggles to find the right gifts and the extra demands of holiday parties. It is no wonder we tend to get stressed out this time of year. We remember the old tune that says, "stop and smell the roses," but the lyrics often go unheeded amid the rush. "Maybe next month, when things are back to normal," we promise ourselves.

I had a heart attack and coronary bypass surgery nineteen years ago, just before Thanksgiving. One of the probable causes of my attack was a high level of stress. That episode made me reexamine my priorities and change many habits...mostly bad habits. I have learned to take more time for 'decompression' each day. I exercise on a regular basis at a club that also offers a hot tub, sauna, steam room, and pool. I cherish the time I allow myself to soak and relax. It gives me time to think and regain perspective. Do you plan time each day where you can relax and screw your head back on straight?

Another big change was in my diet. I try to avoid fatty foods most of the time, and I watch my weight closer. I don't claim to be an angel...particularly during this season, but once you get in the habit of eating lean, the fatty foods don't have as much appeal. I avoid second helpings during the big holiday feasts, but really enjoy the pumpkin pie. We usually make soup out of the leftovers. Beside being delicious, the soup meals help balance out the large holiday meals with our extended family. I think overeating creates stress, amplifying the stress from large gatherings. Perhaps less food and an extra glass of wine will help level things out, eh?

The advice I got from my cardiologist was, "Don't sweat the little things...and just about everything is a little thing." That is a tough assignment for a devout, compulsive Type A, but I am improving. We generally have the large holiday gatherings at our home. There is the effort to get the house in shape for company. Then, there is the rush to clean up the mess after everyone leaves! Doris and I work together on the preparations and our family helps with the clean up campaign, so it becomes less of an individual burden. I now have to remind her to slow down and not to sweat the little things!

Actually, I find enjoyment in helping with the chores, because you see immediate results from your work. Much of what I do with clients takes time before results occur. It's a nice change to dust a table and immediately admire the shine. Try not to over-commit yourself this time of year. Instead, take time to do some chores, decorate the house, or lose yourself for a few hours in a good novel you have been wanting to read..."when you get the time."

A final thought about priorities and stress reduction comes from one of my favorite poets...Jimmy Buffett. Jimmy puts it this way in one of his songs:

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