Am I a Grinch? Never!

For the most part, people generally love the month of December. There is always a lot going on and with the new year fast approaching, resolutions can be made and big and small changes can be implemented. There are lots of fun holiday parties, fun family get-togethers, glorious time off work, pretty decorations everywhere, delicious desserts being baked and so much more. In spite of all that, there are also things associated with this time of year that aren't so wonderful, things that are frustrating, stressful and downright annoying.

My #1 December pet peeve is the cold friggin' weather! Yes, I really shouldn't be complaining as I live in Southern California but I'm still cold! It's all relative, right? Another thing that I'm not a fan of about this month is that every store, every mall, every shopping area seems to be jam packed. Parking spaces are harder to come by, there are long lines to buy everything and I honestly don't think that people are in better moods this time of year either. What do you think? I think that people out and about seem even more impatient, bitter and occasionally even rude. : ( I'm also stressing a little this year about what gift to get my Secret Santa. My family and I draw each others names so we are just responsible for that one person instead of everyone. We've done this the past two Christmas's and it works out really well. I just have absolutely no idea what to get my person this year and time is ticking away. . . Oh well, I'll figure it out eventually.

With all the chaos of this time of year, I truly think the key is finding balance. I've had this list forever and thought that this would be the perfect time to share it with you on my blog.

Here are 20 Ways to Achieve a Balanced Life:

1. Make Yourself a Priority- Make time for what you enjoy the most, like spending time with family or working out. It's been proven that you'll be more efficient at work doing this.
2. Live by a List- To maintain sanity, write to-do lists. It also helps to include things on these lists that are fun and you look forward to doing.
   
3. Focus on One Thing at a Time- Sticking to one task and continuing to work on it until you finish it will give you peace of mind when it's all done. It also simplifies things too.
4. Be Realistic With your Time- It's important to know just how much time an activity is going to take you.
   
5. Think "Activity" Rather Than "Workouts"- Even short 10 minute increments tone our hearts, minds and emotions.
6. Limit your TV Time- Studies have shown that people that spend more time watching television tend to be more depressed than those who watch in moderation. Make sure to indulge in all your other hobbies as well.
7. Make Time for Meals- Our bodies and brains need regular infusions of nutritious food and water to work at full potential all day long.
8. But Keep it Simple- Eating nutritious doesn't have to mean complicated menus. Find healthy meals that require little preparation so you'll have time for everything else in your life.
   
9. Don't Go it Alone- There is no reason for anyone to go through something difficult alone. Ask for help when you need it. Your family and friends want to be there for you.
   
10. Ask for What You Need- "You can be putting good out into the world because you're trying to be strong, but be unwilling to receive the goodness that the world has for you. You can't be too strong to receive. That's not healthy." -Toby Thompkins; renown personal growth writer.
11. Don't Play Superwoman or Superman!
12. Transform Your Barriers into Boundaries- Don't say that you'll never do something or that you always do something. Instead replace them with "I'll only do this to this point" or "I'll do this part and the rest is yours."
    
13. Train Others to be Less Needy- Telling someone that you need their support is a great way of doing this.
    
14. Don't Drive Yourself Nuts- Be aware that the commute can change your whole mood, so make a conscious choice to stay positive.
15. Take Time to Unwind- After getting home from your work day, change clothes before starting a new activity or conversation. Reflect on your day and make a deliberate choice not to dwell on the things that you can't do anything about until tomorrow.
    
16. Climb- Be sure to climb those mountains, but scale them one at a time.
    
17. Begin Each Day with Purpose- Try reflecting on your purpose for 15 minutes in the morning. This can help eliminate an hour of distractions later in the day.
18. Don't Procrastinate- Plan your schedule to get the toughest or most dreaded critical activities done first.
    
19. Cherish- Cherish those unexpected moments of peace and quiet.
    
20. Remember to Breathe!