It is that time of year again.  The struggle during the holiday season from October to mid-January is real. However, there is a reason this group of months is classified as being the fifth season.  People walk a fine line between gratitude and losing their ever-loving minds.  

The human condition is a wondrous thing, and the pressure we put on ourselves for perfection and warm memories can tip the scale in crazy’s favor.  We wear a lot of hats during the day in our careers, home life, and relationships.  Some of us even develop completely different personalities over the holidays.  Navigating the challenges that each of those hats holds can be overwhelming.

Take comfort in knowing that not everything has to go right to be right.  We have some hints that may help you get through this season.  Don’t worry.  If you think you are alone in feeling holiday blues or don’t know how to untangle them, you are not. There is no escape from chaos, but there are ways to manage the mischief.  Like our many hats, there are many types of wellness.  It is essential to know the definition of wellness before we can set out to achieve it.

The Six Dimensions of Wellness

Most of the time, you hear about physical or mental wellness when overall wellness is more dynamic and spans several different facets.  Wellness is intimately connected to relationships, situations, and how you manage them.  According to Dr. Bll Hettler of the National Wellness Institute, six dimensions of wellness make up the heart of personal wellness. 

1. Occupational Wellness

Do what you love, and it’s not a job, right? Unfortunately, we can’t all have that luxury.  Job satisfaction is central to our life, and we spend considerable time either at work or working.  A satisfying career allows a sense of autonomy, competent and consistent leadership and exhibits a culture and vision that align with your core values and beliefs.  The goal here is to participate in a career that you love or find value and reward in your workplace.  Find a way to acquire transferable skills and keep your hand up for every opportunity.

2. Physical Wellness

Exercising and eating healthy comes more easily to some than others.  With rich food, sweets, and drink, willpower and routine are tested during holidays.  Enjoying everything in moderation is vital, but don’t beat yourself up for a mistake.  The number one renewed vow after Christmas is physical fitness in the new year.

3. Social Wellness

Relationships are the single most crucial factor in navigating challenges successfully—relationships from youth influence your relationships as an adult.  Social wellness includes our relationships with the community and our environment.  Contributing to social good amplifies prosperity for you and those around you.  This is another dimension showcased during the holiday season.  Social and family pressure may be overwhelming.  Communicate your boundaries with responsible giving.

4. Intellectual Wellness

If any of you have seen Tom Hanks talking to Wilson, you understand how vital it is to have riveting conversations and debates.  This dimension solutes the human need to devour information, crave stimulation, and love the creative sides of ourselves.  We enjoy having someone around us who challenges how we think and introduces us to new ways of thinking.  Critical thinking helps us excel in occupations by solving problems and achieving goals.  This dimension flourishes in holiday decorating and baking but diminishes in work activities until after the first of the year.

5. Spiritual Wellness

Believing in a higher power or another philosophy in which you make sense of the world provides meaning.  Finding spirituality or a belief structure enhances life with a sense of purpose and gratitude.  Finding your place in the universe and self-reflection introduces compassion, a moral compass, patience, tolerance, and respect for life.  This dimension is the most readily available during the holiday season and often overshadows the other dimensions.  Values and virtue practiced consistently year-round are a gift.

6. Emotional Wellness

Emotional wellness encompasses being aware of our feelings and accepting how we feel.  This is a big ask during a season known for spreading goodwill and squashing the bygones.  We mask or ignore emotions during the holidays to please others and keep the peace.  There is something to be said about that; however, there must be a balance.  You may be adept at controlling your emotions, but you must know your limitations and establish healthy coping skills.  Emotional wellness means feeling good about yourself and your place in life.

Reading through these dimensions helped you identify areas you should focus on to perfect a balance.  There are many moving parts, so don’t be discouraged if not all are copasetic.  While this list is a good start, I like to include Financial Wellness in my wellness repertoire; however, that is a topic for another time as it requires more than a few sentences and may tip you over the edge during the shopping season.  The goal of this blog is personal harmony and managing chaos. 

Paying attention to these dimensions, how they affect you, and how your behavior influences change is an evolving skill.  Essentially, mastering these dimensions by being self-aware and participating in self-care is a lifestyle choice for living your best life.  Your best life does not need to measure up or look like anyone else’s – it is a personal brand and unique.  The holiday season can often bring out your worst and best self, so how do you establish consistency?

Taking Control: Communication

Communication is the key to world domination or destruction.  How you communicate in all of your relationships matters.  Communication is an art whether you are relaying expectations to your children, boundaries to a loved one, or project details to your work colleagues.  Clear communication is essential.  

Recognizing the importance of communication, Standard Pipe Services is creating  SPSLearn is currently beta testing a free course to enhance these skills called Positively Managing. In addition, we now seek feedback and insight into classes that would elevate your occupational success.  

Influential leaders are skilled communicators who demonstrate a mastery of time management, exercise emotional and cultural intelligence, and serve as a source of inspiration for positive company culture. Exceptional leadership skills are highly sought after in every vocation.  You do not have to be in a supervisory role to benefit from engaging in positive leadership behavior.  

These skills are essential in promoting a healthy, enjoyable, and productive working environment.  Skills learned in this course apply to several areas in your personal life and will enhance your quality of life.   We encourage you to take the short course and provide feedback online or to: Kelly Mitchell.  Chaos will never go away, but there are effective ways to gain some control in the eye of the storm.

5 Tips on How To Organize Chaos

Not all of these tips will speak to you, and you don’t need to try them all at once. Instead, master the skills before moving to the next one.  The foundation and guiding principle here is to embrace the chaos and ride the wave, don’t try to control it.  It’s the destination, not the journey.  Insert any inspirational quote here as long as you BELIEVE it.  If you accept the chaos, you and those around you are less stressed and benefit.

1. Delegate! DO NOT MicroManage

Where people are willing to help, take it!  Clearly communicate what you need to do and trust that it will be done; no micromanaging is necessary.  We tend to try to control more as things go outside of our control in our effort to make everything ‘perfect’.  Go in knowing that mistakes will be made, people can get the job done without doing it ‘your way’, and all that is OKAY.  People learn from mistakes; let that process happen because it helps you and them in the long run.  Sing ‘Let It Go’ if you have to.  Great holidays can be disguised as a beautiful disasters.  It is all about perception.  IMPORTANT: Give compliments for a well-done job; recognize people’s efforts.

2. Be Mindful

Take 5 minutes in the morning to recall tasks that must be done during the day.  Take care to complete the most critical tasks first.  Take another 5 minutes mid-day to reflect on what has been accomplished and prioritize the remaining tasks.  Take frequent fresh air walks, and engage in some stretches or jumping jacks to reset and refresh.  

3. Set a Time Management Schedule

Exercising superior time management skills positively impacts your physical and mental health.  Time management is more than being productive; it enhances your quality of life by managing an asset you never get back: Time. Remember, scheduling time for yourself is essential in keeping your sanity.  Schedule appointments with yourself to indulge in hobbies, friends, family, and other activities you enjoy.  Our free SPSLearn course explains different styles of time management and the benefits.

4. Set Boundaries & Learn to Say No

Stretching yourself thin creates stress.  You can be kind and gracious without selling your soul.  This is where a time management schedule comes in handy in outlining what you do and don’t have time for.  Setting boundaries may be difficult at first.  This is where communication skills will support your goal.  You can always start by saying, “I’m so sorry, I would love to help, but my schedule is limited at the moment – raincheck?”.  

5. Utilize Autopilot & Think Ahead

Take advantage of auto-scheduling tasks and preventative maintenance that are routine.  The world is full of smart appliances that can help with this, from the sprinkler and light timers to Roombas.  There are even kitty litter boxes that clean themselves!  Some devices even talk to each other and alert you when there is a problem, such as your thermostat.  Align with companies that offer preventative maintenance for plumbing, gutters, fire extinguishers, appliance and AC inspections, etc.

We hope you have found these tips helpful and you can find the time to relax and crawl out of your headspace a few minutes a day.  Standard Pipe Services can help you with inspections, prioritizing, and planning preventative maintenance.  
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