Below are easy tips to help you get through the holiday season feeling your very best.

By Susan Smith Jones, Ph.D.

1. Slow down. When you constantly direct your attention and energies outward, it's easy to lose your sense of inner wonder, calmness, balance and happiness. By slowing down and redirecting your energies inward, not only will you train your brain to relax, you will feel less bogged down by the obligations and duties you have during the holidays.

2. Set a positive tone for the day. The first 40 minutes of each day sets the tone for your entire day. Choose to make these first few moments as peaceful, positive and uplifting as possible. One of the very best ways to do this is simply to read Unity's Daily Word® magazine upon arising. Then spend a few minutes in quiet meditation and prayer time, reflecting on the message for the day. This simple, sacred practice will change your life for the better.

3. Bring healthy snacks while you shop. Be prepared by bringing some crunchy, healthy snacks such as nuts, apples or cut up raw vegetables and you'll be less likely to succumb to fast food while you are out.

4. Give yourself a mini massage. Combine one tablespoon of extra virgin, cold pressed olive oil with three to four drops of essential peppermint oil and massage your feet. You'll soon be saying, “Ahhhhhhh!”

5. Sleep like a baby. Avoid nighttime calls and turn off your cell phone before going to bed. A study at the University of Zurich found that exposing people to electromagnetic fields from cell phones altered their brain waves during sleep, which resulted in sleep disturbances.

6. Keep hydrated. Our bodies are 70 percent water. Our cells are 70 percent water and our planet is 70 percent water. That's no coincidence. Each day we need to drink eight glasses of water or more to maintain good health.

7. Bathe in lavender. The beautiful flowers of lavender are an age-old remedy for stress. British researchers at the University of Wolverhampton had women add lavender oil to their bath water. Bathing by itself is calming, but in this study, a bath infused with lavender oil significantly reduced anger, frustration and negativity. Use a handful of lavender flowers or buy lavender oil and add several drops to your bath.

8. Treat yourself to chocolate. Chocolate is a wonderful mood booster. When selecting chocolate to enhance your mood, always choose dark, antioxidant-rich chocolate.

Susan Smith Jones, Ph.D., is an author and motivational speaker. Please refer to her book The Joy Factor (Conari Press 2011) and her three-book Blissful Living set published by Hay House® for more information on living a vibrantly healthy, balanced life. Visit www.SusanSmithJones.com or www.SusansRemedies.com.