My colleague Kenny Tavares is our featured guest blogger to start off December, and his article is an important reminder that all-work-and-no-taking-care-of-yourself is a great way to mess up any time of year, but especially this one. End of year donations and asks, data entry and reconciliation, relatives visiting, shopping and gift wrapping, last-minute requests, managing expectations…it’s a lot all in a very short space of time. Here’s Kenny’s advice on how to make the season manageable and more merry – and a reminder to keep a caring eye on folks who may be vulnerable at this time of year. ~Helen

---

Happy Holidays!!!

For many people, this time of the year is joyous. It’s a great time to celebrate with friends and family and to be thankful for what we have. However, for some, this is not the most wonderful time of the year. Schedules compress, to-do lists grow and demands of the season are overwhelming. The mere mention of the holiday usually finds me rushing to a calendar and beginning the countdown.

We all have experience dealing with stress, but stress at the end of the year can be especially difficult and ultimately unhealthy. Chronic stress can lead to a number of physical disorders, including anxiety, depression, heart attacks and strokes, so when things feel out of control, it’s important to be mindful and take care of ourselves. Before things accelerate too quickly, let’s take a moment to review strategies for dealing with stress at work and at home. Hopefully, the following tips will keep you feeling positive and full of happiness this season. [Read more…]