Here come the Holidays and with them, all of the fun, excitement and anxiety of getting through this hectic time!

Very often we hear about "Holiday Burnout," sometimes described as seriously burning the candles at both ends.  You've got your job (which nowadays may mean doing a lot more with a lot less), and you've got all of the elements of the season to respond to.  So what can you do to prevent a "meltdown" over the next several months?   Here are some tips:

1. Really take stock of the meaning of the season.  Whatever your commitments during this time, take time to prioritize what's most important to you and your family.

2. Seek balance in your life.  Balance can mean different things for different people at different times.  However, the following seem to be on everyone's wish list:  time spent alone with family and friends, a chance to engage in things that are personally meaningful to you, a time to develop diverse aspects of yourself, a way of life that reflects your own set of values and priorities.

3. Find humor in tense situations.  Sometimes things are just not as serious as we make them out to be.

4. Stop periodically and take your emotional pulse.  Do you feel stressed, hurried, dissatisfied, sleepless, etc.?  If so, take some "mental health" time.  Exercise, go to a spa, read, or just be still.

5. Learn to say "No" without guilt.  Ask yourself:  "Am I giving physically, mentally and emotionally more than I'm getting?"

6. Temper high expectations with realistic goals.  We may never reach the perfection that we seek, but we can always seek to do our best in support of our family, colleagues, company and work!

7. Take time to learn about how other cultures and groups celebrate their seasons.  There may be helpful ideas to jumpstart your own creativity.

8. Finally, celebrate LIFE..in a way that supports everything that is wonderful about you!