The smell of mulled cider. 
The bite of cold on the tip of your nose. 
The crunch of the snow under your boots. 
The sound of the Messiah & Mannheim Steamroller.
 The glow of the tree.  

I love it all.  Except for some of the crazy that leads up to it.  More get togethers, kids concerts, shopping for gifts.  

So what can you do to enjoy the time and be PRESENT, like really PRESENT for it (emotionally connected too)?  

I know the shorter days do not play in my favor either.  Coupled with grading and submitting finals, the holidays have the potential to be become one of my least favorite times of the year.  

About a year ago (when I tried Project 333), I started following Courtney with BeMOREwithLess.  
Somehow her weekly emails arriving on Friday morning reminds me to chill, which for this time of year is needed.

An odd question to ask right?  Specifically, is your house laid out in such a way that you can be social?  Most new construction is (= open floor plan). 
I don’t just mean big parties where people can mingle, but does youR home accommodate and offer an inviting place to just chat with a good friend over a warm cup of tea or glass of wine? Or maybe offer the opportunity to cook together?

How do you answer these questions: 

 SEATING OPTIONS — is comfortable & accessible to you and your guests? How are chairs and sofas orientated?  They should face each other so its easy to chat while also maintaining eye contact. 

LIGHTING — Is there multiple sources of lighting, or what some might call mood lighting?  Most overhead lighting is harsh and strains our eyes, what type of lamps are spread around your area?  (In my head, I think the lighting at Starbucks, it invites you to stay rather than lighting at Walmart that makes me want to flee fast)​

WINDOWS — do you have natural light?  Or maybe this is just MY thing.  I ADORE natural night. Thus, I want A LOT of it.  It also tends to impact how I arrange the furniture and what direction I face when sitting.  I am not the only one that considers this — just think of outdoor seating outside at a restaurant.  Where do you prefer to sit and why?  For me, I usually choose where I can see the most or best able to people watch. The same seems to hold true in my home too.

NOISE — can you hear each other talking? AND understand them? If your space is large, does your voice echo?  If so, do something to buffer the noise — AKA add things that absorb sound.  This can be things such as rugs, plants, soft sofas, or anything type of partition that breaks up the travel of sound. 

​COLOR — what is your palette?  Are you using colors are absorb light or reflect it?  What fits with your vibe?  This is different for everyone, but make sure your space fits you and makes you comfortable and at ease.  

NOT finding balance can lead to negative consequences if not addressed, from long-term health problems 
to being unhappy.  None are good.  
SO, what can one do?!

1. set realistic goals (not pie in the sky ones!) This could also mean goals to limit things too--like 'only 30 minutes on social media a week'.
2. work & life boundaries MUST exist. 
3. preventative care - remember to visit your doctor regularly. 
4. remember, you should get some ME time every week. How much varies by person.