We’re almost at the end of 2019 and holiday madness has reappeared. You know what I’m talking about: year-end deadlines, more holiday parties than your feet can handle, and general over-commitment.

The result? More stress, more tension, and more anxiety which creeps into the very fabric of our organizations.

What to do? This is about your mindset, so time to reframe from madness to sanity.

Deadline mania. Of course, some year-end deadlines are real, but others are placeholders (“we need to complete this by the end of the year”….not really). Don’t contribute to the stress by adding unnecessary deadlines.

Be selective. You don’t need to do everything. Decide which festivities are the most important to attend and send your regrets to the others. Make sure you include some that you really want to go and don’t just feel obliged to attend.

Mini breaks. If you’re super busy at the office, consider a short break in the usual routine. Bring in a festive breakfast basket or order in lunch. Use this opportunity to express your appreciation for everyone’s good work during a hectic month of December.

Think first, don’t blurt. During times of stress, many people blurt out the wrong comment at the worst time. Take a few seconds to consider what you’re about to say, then temper it. You don’t want to contribute even more to your staff’s stress.

Self-care. Make sure you keep up with your meditation or exercise (or both!). If you don’t do anything like this, take five minutes of uninterrupted time to simply close your eyes and focus on your breathing. You’ll be surprised how refreshed even a few minutes brings you.

These are only a few ideas to get started. Remember, it’s up to you to reframe from “holiday madness” to “holiday sanity”. And I know you can do it!