What's in my Holiday Gift Bag

Holidays are stressful!

How to Keep Up

By Ellen Elizabeth

Let's face it. Sometimes the holidays are more stressful than they are fun. Scrambling to buy gifts for everyone. Waiting in endless lines with strangers crowding in your personal space. The kids having tantrums because the train that circles the Christmas tree is broken (fun fact- they broke it). Trying tirelessly to make every single family member happy without showing them how unbelievably stressed you already are. Going from one place to another and trying to visit everyone...one house Christmas Eve, another Christmas Day. Let's not forget all of the friends and coworkers who set up White Elephant Parties or Secret Santa gatherings. Night after night; an endless stream of happy hours or cocktail parties (well, when it is not COVID at least). This year will be filled with zoom calls and virtual Christmas Pageants. It's EXHAUSTING.

Take a deep breath. It is all going to be OK. I have your back. Here are my 5 go to tricks to get through the holidays without having a full blown mental breakdown (or relapse for that matter!)

Here are five helpful tips to stay sane and sober during the holidays.

1. Meditate! This is so important. It only takes a few minutes, and immediately you will feel less anxious and invigorated. One of my favorites is Gabby Bernstein’s “Let Go and Receive Guidance” Meditation

2. Read! I have inspirational books that I read every morning after meditating. My go to inspirational books are "The Language of Letting Go" and "Journey to the Heart" by Melody Beattie

3. Be Prepared! The holidays are all about booze. This was one of the reasons it was my favorite time of the year. Day drinking seems less frowned upon! Since getting sober, it has been incredibly difficult to face the non-stop alcohol filled parties. Now, I always bring my own beverages or non-alcoholic drink to share. For those of you who drink, these are just as good with alcohol included!

a. Synergy Kombucha is my most recent obsession

b. For the holidays, I love using shrubs. You may be asking, what the heck is a shrub? A shrub is a concentrated syrup made from whole fruit, vinegar, and sugar. It’s then mixed with sparkling soda water for a delightful non-alcoholic beverage. If you’re drinking a shrub, you’re enjoying a fruity drink that is sweet, refreshing, and a teeny bit tart (thanks to the vinegar).I love the Apple Pie flavor from McClary Shrubs. Simply Combine 1 part McClary Bros. Drinking Vinegar with 4 parts sparkling water and add lemon as a garnish. Voila. Easy peasy.

c. For a more Christmassy feel that you can share with others, try this recipe:

i. Take 4 cups cranberry juice, 2 cups pineapple juice, 2 cups orange juice and mix in a pitcher with ice and sprite or sparkling water (to taste). Add sugar to the rim of your glass with lime for garnish.

4. Plan Ahead! It is not always fun being the sober person at a party where everyone else is getting plastered. If that's the case for you, make sure you have your own transportation to get home early. Drive your own car. If you are drinking, be sure you have a designated driver or use Uber, Lyft, or taxis. Do not drive under the influence, even if you only had a couple!

5. Reach Out! I am always prepared with contact lists. If I start feeling uncomfortable, anxious, or feel tempted to drink, I need to have a handful of people that I know will answer at any time. When I feel squirrelly, I HALT. I ask myself if I am Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. If you aren’t feeling your best, taking a moment to HALT is one of the best things you can do for your overall mental and physical health.