Focus Magazine of SWFL Cheers To Your Style | Page 38

Staying Sane
ThisHoliday

Season

by Marla Tomazin

Without a doubt, the holidays are a crazy time of year (as
well as “the most wonderful”!). From the end of November to the beginning of January, most of us rush around
nonstop, trying to fit in dozens of events, activities, and
responsibilities. And even though most of us look forward to this special season all year long, it’s still easy to
stretch yourself too thin in the midst of all the festivities.
According to Marla Tomazin, that’s why it’s very important to take care of yourself as well as taking care of
everyone else.
“Most of us don’t realize just how demanding the holiday
scramble can be until we’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or
even sick,” points out Tomazin, who has been an image
consultant for twenty years after earlier experience in
the fashion industry. “The good news is, with a little prior
planning and prioritizing, you can enjoy and cherish the
things that are most important to you without having to
run on fumes to make it through New Year’s Eve!”
Tomazin promises that when you decide to have yourself
a merry little Christmas, you’ll make more memories to
cherish, you’ll be a more valuable help to your family,
and you’ll be in a good position to enter the New Year already on a roll. Read on for her top take-care-of-you tips:
Make a list and check it twice. Realistically, you can focus only on one or two big goals at a time, no matter
how adept you are at multitasking. That’s why Tomazin
recommends sitting down (right now!), deciding what is
most important to you this holiday season, and prioritizing those things. If spending time with your family is at
the top of your list, for example, put them first and consciously make sure that other things remain on the back
burner. Or if eating well and maintaining your health is a
primary goal, plan out a strategy beforehand so that you
won’t be blindsided by buffet-table bounty. Most importantly, remember that you can’t do it all.
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“I’ll never forget the year I specifically set aside time to
spend with my mother,” Tomazin recalls. “She taught me
to make the Italian cookies that she and her family had
always enjoyed at this time of year. I couldn’t possibly
put a price on learning to carry on this tradition, and the
memories my mother and I made are certainly better
than if we had gone shopping in one more store!”
Give yourself the gift of health. When you’re this busy
and stressed, it’s easy to become run down and spread
yourself too thin. And on top of the strain that the holiday bustle can bring, it’s also cold and flu season…so
make sure to take care of your physical needs. Tomazin
recommends getting in some light exercise, even if you
can work in only a short walk a few days a week. Also, be
sure to drink lots of water, eat healthy foods, and avoid
gorging on treats at every opportunity. Lastly, make a
point to get enough sleep (DVR that late-night holiday
special if you have to)! Tomazin promises that if you do
all of these things, you’ll enter the New Year on a healthy
foot. And that means that you won’t have to start all
over on January 2nd and make a brand new set of “lose
weight and live healthier” resolutions.
Go on a date…with yourself. We tend to be more or less
constantly surrounded by other people du ɥ