The holiday season is now in full swing, and we’ve all experienced the not-so-jolly aspects of this time of year. Traffic and crowded parking lots, sold-out products, and long lines have a way of bringing out our saboteurs and the saboteurs of others.

We should expect things to take longer, understand that impatience is increased, and relax into a slower pace that allows us to accommodate for the increase in activity.

Yeah, right…

Typically our expectations of cozying up around the fireplace, holiday cheer, and silent nights are unrealistic.

And when you feel like things are going to threaten your peace, your Saboteurs will jump into action...

Your Hyper-Achiever will push you to do it all, telling you that you just need to “get through the holidays”;

Your Avoider will conveniently misplace the to-do list and start Googling “how to move to the Costa Rica”;

Your Hyper-Rational will be annoyed with everyone and everything’s lack of efficiency;

Your Controller and Stickler will become agitated that things aren’t getting taken care of in the right way;

Your Pleaser will be filled with anxiety if others aren’t having the experience you want them to have, and…

Your Hyper-Vigilant and Victim will feel overwhelmed and burned out by it all.

Overseeing it all is your Judge, letting you know that you’re not doing a great job humaning.

When your Saboteurs are in charge, overwhelm, pushing, inaction, agitation, and burnout can be on the holiday party menu.

Luckily, there is an alternative!

The next time you start to notice a negative emotion courtesy of holiday stress, try this simple Stop, Sense, and Shift formula:

1. Stop. Recognize that the emotion is coming from one of your Saboteurs and identify it.
2. Sense. Focus on a sensory experience. What do you see, hear, or smell? Run your hand
across something and notice all the sensations of touch.
3. Shift. Make a conscious decision about how you would like to feel. Direct your energy
toward that emotion.

This isn’t just a nice idea; it’s science! Research has proven that this protocol can help you to experience higher levels of performance, wellbeing, and even strengthen your relationships. If you want to dive deeper into this work, check out The Self-Command Collective