I'm back from a wonderful holiday to sunny Southern California.  We spent time in Palm Desert, Santa Monica,  Universal Studios (does anyone remember the Return of the Mummy ride?), and Disneyland.  The weather was wonderful and our GPS made the navigating painless!

It's time really to start right into holiday season isn't it?  I'm trying to round up  some electronic gifts and am finding it a challenge.  And here I thought I started early!

Some of the things I want to discuss under motivation this week are really review but sometimes we need that.  I want to discuss stress and fatigue because we know the holidays can look like that while we shop, attend parties, decorate, host family and friends.  It's ongoing!

Did you know that chewing gum can reduce stress?  We already know that gum can lower sugar cravings and freshen breath.  Researchers in England had 1 group chewing and 1 group not chewing while performing frustrating mental tasks.  The group chewing gum had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.  So maybe as the holiday season begins it's a good time to ensure you've got a pack of gum at your desk, in your purse and at home!

Here are 3 questions that I have modified for the holidays, originally these questions related to starting a new job.  I think they can keep us in the moment for the holidays too.

1. What's the best thing about the holidays?  Insert answer here and then ..... do more of that!  Remember it's about choice and being in those special moments, not planning or worrying about the next one.
2. What's the worst thing about the holidays?  Insert answer here and then ..... do less of that!   Remember it's about choice.
3. What would you change if you could change just one thing about the holidays? Does this mean attending less Christmas functions?  Only traveling every second year.  Never sending another Christmas card.  Do whatever it takes to empower yourself to have the holiday you want.  Traditions have to start somewhere - start a new one this year.

In Shape August 2008 Gabby Reece has 3 ways to power through fatigue.  Now I can't recommend that we always power through fatigue - sometimes a day or even an hour of rest is necessary for everyone - how many times have I heard  it said - the kids are so exhausted this time of year?  Maybe we all need to work more on keeping the balance.

• Watch your energy.  Gabby read that a 2 minute burst of anger can negatively affect your hormones for 2 hours.  So she tries not to get upset over the stuff that isn't going to matter in an hour let alone a month or a year.
• Exercise.  It doesn't have to be intense but it will rev up your energy and clears the fogginess.  Maybe a walk without the kids in tow.  Or a swim - the water can be so calming.
• Practice active meditation.  This is simply returning your focus to your breath.  Being mentally scattered is very draining.  I also make lists to get all of that scatter on a page, then I can sort through it.

"Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden.  Time, effort, and imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and growing."  Jim Rohn

"To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right."  Confucius

I went lite with the quotes this week.  But don't worry I've got lots more!!