Is it time for a holiday epiphany?

Thanksgiving is over, and the holiday mayhem is on. We get warmed up to the mad rush of Christmas and holiday shopping well in advance. Starting in September with the big box store displays of Christmas trees, lights, lawn ornaments, and holiday gift packages there it is, in our face. Still in shorts mowing the lawn, driving around with the top down on our convertibles, there it tis, much to our chagrin.
    
Black Friday, Local Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday, discounts, specials, spend, spend, spend. Crowded parking lots, people in a hurry, blustery weather, dark at 4 o’clock, but we need to get presents for everyone on our list.. doon’t weee? Ahh, let’s wait till the last minute.

Easy as 1, 2, 3 Holiday Tips

1. Try this breathing exercise when you are getting freaked out. It’s called the 4-7-8. Breath in though your nose four counts, hold for seven counts, and exhale through your mouth eight counts. Try it a few times and you will become an expert. You need to practice it to work… every day, but not too much you may pass out. Next time you are in a traffic jam, long line, or plain old frustrated for no reason, think about it and do it.
2. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Drink plenty of filtered water in a store-bought container versus plastic if you can. Mostly during the day, less at night, so not to interrupt sleep with nighttime bathroom visits. Start the day with a big glass, and drink throughout. Tea, coffee, soda, energy drinks, and anything mixed with water doesn’t count. This keeps your body hydrated, will stave off headaches and maintain your energy.
3. Get a good night’s sleep. Work at making your bedroom a comfortable place to lure you into sleepy land. Get rid of electronics, bright clocks, light from windows, TV’s and try to follow the natural circadian rhythm of sleep, early to bed early to rise, makes the person healthy, wealthy and wise.
4. Bonus point 1; Wake up fifteen minutes earlier that usual. Start writing in a journal your initial thoughts called morning pages. (Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way) Start with thanksgivings, (10) then let your mind roll, dreams, thoughts for the day, free thought writing, and keep it where only you have access to it because it’s no one’ business but yours. Practice this every morning and you will find a much clearer vision in your day to day thinking. Eventually this could lead to an epiphany!

Just a couple things of fancy I thought my friends and foes out there can use to their advantage in the upcoming weeks.