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December #b365 Tip: Find Joy
Parties every day of the week. Last-minute shopping. Hectic travel schedules. Sugar-cookie overload. Let’s be honest: For a month that’s supposed to be all about joy, December can feel like 31 days of nonstop stress.
It’s tempting to put your blinders on and charge full-steam ahead, hyperfocused on the finish line. We get it! But we have a better idea: Instead of just getting through December, what if we could actually enjoy it? We’re not talking about forcing a smile through every last office party and holiday dinner. We’re talking about finding joy your own way.
Read on for our favorite tips on how to find joy in this crazy-busy month.
Slow down. December is a bit like a hamster-wheel: Once you get on, you’re so caught up in the action that it’s hard to get off. To make the month more than just a blur of festivities you’ll barely remember, hop off the hamster wheel every now and then. Instead of being jostled by crowds at the “last-chance” sale, find peace by taking a solo walk on a nature trail. Rather than make an appearance at the three holiday parties that fall on the same night, commit to one and truly be present. Not feeling into the big tree-lighting event this year? Stay home and read a book by the fire instead. Simply removing yourself from the chaos now and then can be all you need to feel rejuvenated and ready to rejoin the fun.
Move. December’s festivities tend to revolve around eating and drinking, and that can take a toll not just on our bodies but on our minds, too. The best way to combat the physical and mental sluggishness that ensues? Exercise. Keep it simple this month. Maybe that means booking your barre3 classes for the month now so it’s one less thing to do later. Maybe it means doing barre3 Online workouts if you know you won’t be able to get to the studio as often as you’d like. Maybe it means scheduling a can’t-miss weekly walking date with your neighbor. Make it simple and realistic, but also make it mandatory. Your happiness depends on it!
Connect. Have you ever wondered why, in a hyper-social month spent delivering cookies to neighbors and visiting relatives, we’re left feeling depleted or even lonely by the end? It’s because seeing people isn’t the same as connecting with them—and without authentic connection, it’s impossible to be happy. (That’s why connection is one of our three pillars at barre3: exercise, nourish, connect.) So this season, remember to build in time for authentic connection—both with others and with yourself. No need to overthink it. Something as simple as a gift-wrapping session with your sister or time to journal alone can be all you need to feel connected again.
Say no. If you let it, December will take your calendar and run with it, booking you solid every single day. That’s why this month it’s more important than ever to exercise your “no” muscle. You don’t have to go to every last party, you don’t have to take part in every Secret Santa exchange, and you don’t have to oblige every request to volunteer, bake cookies, or donate money. The best part about saying no? It makes it easier to truly enjoy the things you say “yes” to!
Give back. Sometimes finding joy is as simple as finding perspective. When we give to those in need, we not only help others, we also get an opportunity to remember how lucky we are. Suddenly, our worries—finding the perfect present, cooking the perfect holiday dinner, getting our holiday cards out on time—seem incredibly small, and we remember to find joy in what we have. This year, find a way to give back, whether it’s volunteering your time at a local charity or donating to a cause close to your heart.
What are your favorite tips for finding joy this month? Share them in the comments below!
Parties every day of the week. Last-minute shopping. Hectic travel schedules. Sugar-cookie overload. Let’s be honest: For a month that’s supposed to be all about joy, December can feel like 31 days of nonstop stress.
It’s tempting to put your blinders on and charge full-steam ahead, hyperfocused on the finish line. We get it! But we have a better idea: Instead of just getting through December, what if we could actually enjoy it? We’re not talking about forcing a smile through every last office party and holiday dinner. We’re talking about finding joy your own way.
Read on for our favorite tips on how to find joy in this crazy-busy month.
Slow down. December is a bit like a hamster-wheel: Once you get on, you’re so caught up in the action that it’s hard to get off. To make the month more than just a blur of festivities you’ll barely remember, hop off the hamster wheel every now and then. Instead of being jostled by crowds at the “last-chance” sale, find peace by taking a solo walk on a nature trail. Rather than make an appearance at the three holiday parties that fall on the same night, commit to one and truly be present. Not feeling into the big tree-lighting event this year? Stay home and read a book by the fire instead. Simply removing yourself from the chaos now and then can be all you need to feel rejuvenated and ready to rejoin the fun.
Move. December’s festivities tend to revolve around eating and drinking, and that can take a toll not just on our bodies but on our minds, too. The best way to combat the physical and mental sluggishness that ensues? Exercise. Keep it simple this month. Maybe that means booking your barre3 classes for the month now so it’s one less thing to do later. Maybe it means doing barre3 Online workouts if you know you won’t be able to get to the studio as often as you’d like. Maybe it means scheduling a can’t-miss weekly walking date with your neighbor. Make it simple and realistic, but also make it mandatory. Your happiness depends on it!
Connect. Have you ever wondered why, in a hyper-social month spent delivering cookies to neighbors and visiting relatives, we’re left feeling depleted or even lonely by the end? It’s because seeing people isn’t the same as connecting with them—and without authentic connection, it’s impossible to be happy. (That’s why connection is one of our three pillars at barre3: exercise, nourish, connect.) So this season, remember to build in time for authentic connection—both with others and with yourself. No need to overthink it. Something as simple as a gift-wrapping session with your sister or time to journal alone can be all you need to feel connected again.
Say no. If you let it, December will take your calendar and run with it, booking you solid every single day. That’s why this month it’s more important than ever to exercise your “no” muscle. You don’t have to go to every last party, you don’t have to take part in every Secret Santa exchange, and you don’t have to oblige every request to volunteer, bake cookies, or donate money. The best part about saying no? It makes it easier to truly enjoy the things you say “yes” to!
Give back. Sometimes finding joy is as simple as finding perspective. When we give to those in need, we not only help others, we also get an opportunity to remember how lucky we are. Suddenly, our worries—finding the perfect present, cooking the perfect holiday dinner, getting our holiday cards out on time—seem incredibly small, and we remember to find joy in what we have. This year, find a way to give back, whether it’s volunteering your time at a local charity or donating to a cause close to your heart.
What are your favorite tips for finding joy this month? Share them in the comments below!
