The words holiday and stress run together quite well when doing a Google search for one or the other. It’s unfortunate that such a happy, celebratory time of the year can bring on stress for so many. I tend to think that stress is abundant at any time of the year (summer holidays at home with the kids, anyone?) and it’s just a matter of figuring out how to deal with it – but for many people, the holiday stress can hit pretty hard.
In that spirit, this month Betty-Ann Heggie is sharing two of her recent posts aimed at helping you get control of your mind, those negative thoughts, and focusing on charging ahead into the holidays!
In Building Resilience Daily, Betty-Ann shares a situation where any of us would definitely feel frustrated and how she turned it around to not let it impact her the way it could have. Have you been there? When one event happens that kind of makes you do a 180 and you’re off your path, your focus a little wobbly, and then every little thing that happens seems to snowball into a much bigger deal than it should be?
“Here is how it works: Once we open the door a crack and let a few of those bad thoughts enter, our heads take control and we begin to “awfulize” things. We pile on one negative, irrational thought after another, fueling unhappiness.”
Betty-Ann shares “thought-stopping” and how she forcefully stops those thoughts from snowballing. Oh, how I needed to read that!
Sometimes, it doesn’t take a frustrating obstacle to start the negative thoughts from flowing into your head. Sometimes, those thoughts reside in your head like an obnoxious roommate voicing her opinion whether you asked for it or not! In Taming The Obnoxious Roommate In Your Head, Betty-Ann offers 3 strategies to deal with those negative thoughts, and put that obnoxious roommate in her place!
Both of these recent posts are great to read now and then bookmark for later when you feel the holiday stress creeping in and you need to focus! Use the information learned from Betty-Ann to take care of yourself this holiday season, and if you win the giveaway below ensure you use the prize to take care of yourself – mind and body!
Tips to help manage my thoughts and build resiliency are always welcome…always trying to find balance here between work and family and everything else! 🙂
I often mind myself overwhelmed with stress and often seek out tools to help me cope with various aspects in my life which I have no control over. I had a few coping skills in my youth but find as I age, acceptance of what I cannot change doesn’t work and any attempts to do so cause greater anxiety.
Yes I am always up for new tips
No, I am not looking for tips. I just do what I can manage.
Absolutely- I find that Bible study and prayer helps when things get crazy, but I’m always looking for those quick “mantra’s” and strategies for the inbetween on the run kind of times!
I am always looking for tips that will help.
Yes. I like getting new tips.
Just work it out in the gym!
Stress is a factor in everyone’s life these days it seems, so tips on managing it are welcome!
Always. Ive taken up journaling and finding ways to ease stress. It seems to help.
Tips to help remain positive and focused are always welcome. When bad days come, the mind can be your worst enemy. Would be nice to keep it in check.
Im always looking for tips to find my perfect balance. Thank you for the chance to try
Love getting new tips & a new slant on my thinking.
i am into the ‘mindful’ practices. but i like to read about different ideas
we all need help, it is so easy to slip into those negative thoughts
I always like tips on how to manage my thoughts for sure. I usually tell myself if something goes wrong and I can’t do anything about it, don’t worry about it. It will all work out but sometimes its difficult to do that.
I think we are all guilty of a busy mind. Everyone needs to find what works for them
Yes. For sure. Sometimes I just get way too angry or frustrated, way too quickly. I need to remember to breathe and calm down… especially when driving! 😉
I am always looking for tips to manage the crazies that sometimes pop into my head
This is something I’ve been making a real effort to do. I find bad thoughts are almost a habit and once you beak that habit, everything feels easier.
For sure! I am the worst for making a mountain out of a molehill. I spend to much energy okn things that dont matter. So helpful!
I am always open for more tips, that’s how I learn new techniques and try new things and see if it works for my kidlets
I find the best things to do are either go for a walk or read a book which leads to relaxing and more positive thoughts
Yes I am always looking to stregthen my emotional wellbeing.
I do welcome the tips, yes! It’s important to stay in control mentally – so reminders are always helpful
I often have a lot on my mind and go through a lot of stress in a day.
Definitely. I often find myself incredibly stressed out.
I’m always appreciate suggestions on how to manage my thoughts and build resiliency. Life can get stressful and spin out of control within our inner being and it’s important to know who we are, ground ourselves, and be able to deal with situations appropriately with respect and compassion.
I always welcome useful tips..every little bit helps if it’ll relieve stress
Life can be stressful and I’m always looking for great tips to help relieve stress.
I can definitely use some tips, especially becoming a new mom!
Definitely. Good tips are always welcome here.
I think I manage quite well, but the thing with listening and reading tips is you can always learn something
Absolutely. It’s an area I am actively trying to improve.
Yes, we can all improve when dealing with our “crow” (that’s what I call the negative voice LOL)
I am always looking for tips. Right now I meditate twice a day for 15 min., I also meditate on gratefulness for 30 min. Yoga is in there for twice a day too. I just find it really important to strengthen the mind in staying positive. I have bookmarked her strategies. Thanks so much.
Yes,I would like some tips to help manage my thoughts and build resiliency!! Thanks!
i’m always looking for ways to manage my stress and help me relax when sleeping. I find that when I am stressed, it plays on my FM, and then I do not get a good sleep. Learning new ways to try out is always welcomed by me
I would love some tips to help manage my thoughts and resiliency
Tips are always welcome!
I try to be mindful of my surroundings and thinking in the moment.
Resiliency is such an important quality – the more tips the better!
Yes I am always looking for some tips.
I love anything that helps manage my thoughts. I try really hard to be positive and sometimes advice from others makes it easier.
Absolutely – every little bit of help is so appreciated!
I’m always looking for tips and new ideas to help.
I am always looking for ways to handle stress better as i find that your mind can make your reality that worse than it is!
For sure, all tips are welcome!
always need tips to remotivate!
Not looking for tips
I would like tips on managing my thoughts leading up to this holiday season.
Yes I think that would be very helpful!
I think this would be a wonderful topic to blog about, especially with the holidays approaching.
yes, am always seeking to find balance and peace.
always looking to calm things down
Yes, I believe thoughts are things but it’s not always easy to re program yourself to think differently! Always helpful to learn new strategies!!
I actually think I do quite well through the stress of the holidays. It is all about perspective for me.
I’m always looking for something that makes my life easier 🙂
I would love something that makes things easier.
Yes, I’d like to be more resilient when facing anything that comes my way.
I would like to get some tips on resiliency and work on thought stopping. I let it all run away much of the time and know it’s so bad for your health,…not just mental health, it affects so much of physical also. I am going to share this with my grown daughters, I am thinking thought processes are also TAUGHT processes and perhaps they learned some of their habits from me?
Yes, I find that I do because I feel I often please others
Would love tips, sometimes as women our minds never shut down and I think some tips on managing everything would help!
I have had some terribly tough times in the past 5 years but I have recently realized that things have finally settled down and I am not worried as often as I was. I’m glad I stayed strong (most of the time) but I can use some tips to manage that stressful situation when I’m sure it will come up again.
Im always full of negativity and any positive far outweighs negative thoughts.
i always like to take in consideration and tips and tricks~
I think it’s good to have a reminder of one’s self worth and value. It surprises me sometimes people who I think are strong and confident really aren’t. We should always encourage our friends, and never cut them down – they might not be as tall as we think.
I love the holidays but can always use the reminder not to have expectations and to stay positive.
Interesting, will put it in to practice.
I cannot say I am not looking for tips to help manage my thoughts, time to take some action and improve my state.
I think everyone could use a little help in this department at some point or another – I’d be happy to work towards it anyways.
Always looking for tips!
Been a very disheartening 2013 so would definitely be looking for tips.
I’m always looking for ways to balance!
Yes, I am trying to find balance in my life right now.
I am entering your contest.
It would be great to win $100 Paypal cash.
As to your question, I am always looking for ways to improve myself.
Thank you for having this contest.
For sure to build resiliency!! Even my hubby can learn this too!!
A great read, but I usually do okay during the holidays. I have learned how to manage things.
I’m the most resiliant person I know, but I do let my thoughts get the best of me from time to time,
some balance in my life would be great. it gets so hectic sometimes!
i deal with anxiety and a crazy ex lol … so i’m always looking for ways to reign in my thoughts and worries. thank you for this post!
I am always trying to find ways to balance my life
any tips would be great
you have to take care of yourself…especially Moms…because we take care of everyone else.
looking for the positive in every situation and not stressing about what I cannot change
I am always looking to calm things down!!!!!!!
Yes, that would be helpful.
I need a way to silence the voice telling me to give up or put things off.
staying calm and finding balance 🙂
I’m not interested in any tips
Yes! Who isn’t?!
I would like to be more resilient
I am always in the cross road ever since my parents passes away.
I’m always open to tips! I often fall prone to negative thought s and the “snowball effect”.
Tips to help manage my thoughts and build resiliency would be very helpful. I usually do quite well keeping at negative thoughts away, but once they get into my head it’s hard to get rid of them.
That awful snowball effects happens all the time I am learning to stop it with positive thinking so ya any suggestions I will read on!
Yes, I think it is important to have these skills in your toolbox. Especially with seasonal affective disorder, it’s important to have something to fall back on!
Self care I so important all year. Each and everyday find inspiration in something.
I tend to have a lot of negative thoughts. I am slowly learning to replace those negative thoughts with uplifting and positive thoughts. It is hard though. I always get so excited about the holidays. But things can get easily yuckiedmup for me if things don’t go just right.
i would love to read about this topic! with the holidays approaching and being oh so busy and having a little one my mind can definitely be racing sometimes!
Yes any tips/help would be great
I would love some tips!
Tips would be very useful. I’m the type of person that tries to take on what seems impossible, and flood myself with negative thoughts.
I could use some help preventing the nasty snowballl effect.
tips are very useful ..everyone could use a little help
Yes! I have been practicing positive thinking as much as I can but it definitely does take the practice!
tips are always helpful
Tips would be helpful.
I would love to have more tips for these topics!
Oh yes, I have a rather major test I need to pass.
I would love to have more tips for these topics!
Holiday stress is already creeping in. Great tips!
In the past few years, I’ve learned to deal with depression by stopping certain thoughts as soon as I sense them creeping in. If I don’t stop them at the beginning, they absolutely will snowball. It’s not a 100% bullet-proof plan, but it’s made a world of difference.
tips are always great! Good luck to all.
I need help managingmy thoughts.
Yes I really could use some tips to stop my mind from over thinking a lot of things
Love some tips!
I tend to lose sleep over things I can’t control and it always tends to go to negative thoughts than I would like, so tips on how to keep bad thoughts at bay would be amazing.
Sure! Tips always help.
Love tips help to keep focused!!
Tips can be useful.
yes i definitely need some tips.
I think some tips on managing thoughts would be useful.
tips are always a good thing!! i love to learn new things!
super helpful tips, i over think a lot. keep negatives away
I would love some tips on how to keep from over thinking things and letting negativity in.
This tips help me to stay focused
Every little bit helps!!
this would be great to help with the holidays
always looking for useful tips
Thanks for the helpful tips, I have bookmarked them in my favorites. I often get “monkey mind” in the middle of the night with all that I have to do!
yes. negative thoughts are so toxic. i know this but it doesn’t make it any less in my head than everyone elses. tips to control/stop is exactly what i need.
would love tips
tips are very useful!! i try to stay so positive but cant help but allow those negative comments to come through. and then my mind goes crazy over thinking about everything i have to do etc! my husbands a negative person so i try to keep myself grounded
Tips are always useful.
I am always open to suggestions on ways to help manage my thoughts and build resiliency.
of course ! (although i “know” i already answered this it doesn’t seem to indicate i have)
I am always up for tips!
Always up for tips
Tips are always helpful.
Tips would be good 🙂
Absolutely!
I could use A LOT of help in this department. I am guilty of being a Debbie Downer, but always on myself and my projects. Even with the help medicine, it is difficult to change the way one thinks, when that is all that you’ve known. Not to mention the people around you can surely encourage the spiral effect.
Always! 🙂
Nope! I’m actually pretty good at managing my thoughts!
I live with in-laws right now :/ Any tips would be great!
I am looking fir tips. These thoughts keep me awake. I need melatonin pills to shut everything off.
Sure, who wouldn’t want tips to improve themselves? Bring it on!
Wouls love some tips
Need tips is never ending its hard to get through the day and fall asleep at night.
Daily tips would be great
Would love some tips!
These kind of tips are always helpful!
Absolutely ould love tips
Yes. I would love to be able to have more patience and keep my temper!
Daily tips are a great idea
Everyone could use some tips 🙂
I love tips.
I’m always welcoming tips like that. I only ever need the tools to get ahead of my worries, then I’m fine.
Always great to get tips like that!
This time of year is stressful and it is helpful to have tips to deal with it. Even if it is just taking a minute and reading an article.
Yes, that could always help,. especially this time of year!
Yes, tips and reminders are a great tools.
Paypal is fabulous! Wish more businesses used it….I would buy more!
you are never to old to learn, we are all students and we are all teachers, life is good when you learn something new everyday..:-)
daily or weekly tips would be great! 🙂
I would really love daily tips
Could always use some tips
daily tips would be awesome
Daily tips are great
Sure
I love helpful tips!!! Concise and to the point totally works for me!!! 😀
Yes, I love tips on the topic
tips are a great idea!
Any help I can get is welcome, I tend to become a negative nelly some days
Always looking for tips to combat negativity.
Yes. Tips, advice, words, thoughtful quotes to ponder can go a long way.
Thanks.
Looking for tips on dealing with stress
definitely! I love reading positive reaffirmations to help when things are negative around me.
Tips are always good!!!
It wouldn’t hurt to have tips to help with everyday and event stress. You never know what we might glean.
Yes, I am working on cutting negativity out of my life (it’s going well so far!), and being more patient.
it couldn’t hurt
Yes! Always open to positive tips to learn & grow from.
Always looking for tips to help manage our thoughts and build resiliency! Always looking to help others when they need me!
thought stopping is defiantly hard, but a great tip because yes, they always build up and build up more stress.
I need to.
I am looking for tips. Although I find stopping, and then doing something I enjoy for a few minutes can get me back on track. Sometimes all it takes is a cup of coffee with chocolate sprinkles.
TIPS TIPS TIPS! LOVE TIPS!
its true you learn from your mistakes when i feel im getting i try and make myself calm down by a little alone time to calm myself.
Everyone can use a helpful tip 🙂
always need some tips
I must agree getting tips is helpful, especially online by email, etc. You can choose to read them or not that day!
I would absolutely love some tips!
It would be good to have a place to go at those bad times
Love some tips!
Help would be great.
Thank you
Always need help with my snowballing thoughts. I usually call it “my runaway brain” when my anxiety gets the best of me, and I’m always looking for ways to stop it from happening.
Yes I have a bad habit of letting my thoughts get to me too. I am working on staying positive – one day at a time!
I could use both! ALWAYS room to improve and excel in daily life.
yes sometimes. i have a hard time overthinking things. i need a better filtering system for the important stuff
How true!!
Always on the search for self improvement
I find there is always something to stress about children, money, work… The list goes on. I don’t want my children to inherit my stress so any way to build resilience or managing tools is great.
I sometimes can think the worst in a situation – this reminds me to try to think positive first.
I find it difficult not to worry about work, kids, and life in general. It would be good to learn some methods to manage that.
I have been working on some of this already, but I’m sure she would have some helpful hints regardless.
Sometimes, I like to overthink things
Whenever I have negative thoughts I try to remind myself about the positive things instead, but even so, that doesn’t always work
I am – right now I’m dealing with grief and would love help with dealing with it.
I have been neglecting to think I need a better way to manage my thoughts. After what I went through today and accomplished at the same time, I did think about my thought process. Why I was getting worked up, what about setting myself time limits for frustration etc. I was thinking about it, as I went about my tasks. Reading your post. Makes me think, I am not the only one that anticipates the “snowball effect” or survives through it. Good to hear!
I am definitely interested in building resiliency. There are times that I find managing my thoughts more difficult and could benefit from some tips.
Always looking to improve myself.
Always looking for tips! Even if you think you know everything, someone always knows more.
Lots of prayer. 🙂
yes, sometimes my mind tends to over analyze things and keeps churning.
I can always use some tips! I always have the habit of overanalyzing things and making a mountain out of a molehill.
No, I’m not looking for any tips.