Allison Aubrey

It's recommended by lots of counselors and therapists.

So let me walk you through it really quickly.

You start by simply noticing and naming three things you see, you know, at the tree, the skies, your hands.

Then three things you hear or feel, the wind, the ground, like a bird chirp or, you know, even your own breath.

And then gently move three parts of your body.

So tap your toes or bend your neck or wiggle a finger.

Now, placing your attention on all these external things can pull you away from your worries to the immediacy of what's around you.

And as you do this, as you kind of touch what's real, it can have a calming effect and can help kind of break that spiral of anxious thoughts.

Sure.

Now, first of all, I do not want to be Scrooge here.

I mean, there is nothing wrong with enjoying holiday treats.

But if you know you have a tendency to overdo it with food or drink or staying out too late...

There are some things you can try.

I like this strategy to kind of find a buddy.

It could be a friend, a partner, your spouse, someone who you are on the same page with, who can hold you accountable.

So say we're talking about alcohol over the course of the evening or the day.

You may agree you don't want to consume more than, you know, two drinks.

So you can help each other pace and remind each other to alternate between water and a drink to kind of slow each other down.

There's lots of apps to help moderate as well.

One is called Sunnyside.