42 hours buying, wrapping, and returning gifts, as well as partying and traveling to visit family and friends. 

That's an ENTIRE WORK WEEK! I certainly hope you've planned for that on your calendar, in your budget and in your macro plan. Otherwise it's going to make a serious dent in your wallet, schedule and waistline. With 2 months of potential distractions coming at you, now is a good time to reevaluate your focus.

Here it comes, the invite you always get, to Aunt Edna's Thanksgiving dinner. You love her, but the rest of the crowd, not so much. There are cousins who drive you nuts, the uncle who is always discussing the most inappropriate topics, and then there's the other relative who should definitely not have another glass of cheer. The invite comes, your heart rate increases, you groan audibly. Then you think to yourself, "Ugh, I really don't want to, but I guess I'd better go".

Press pause right there and let's discuss. Why do you "have to" go? Does it make you feel good? Do you enjoy it? What does it do to you physically? Physically? Yes, physically! Did you realize that when you agree to things that stress you out, cause you anxiety and make you miserable, you're really doing physical damage to your body? I wrote about that in a previous article titled "What stress really does to your body". Check it out for all the details because all of the same negative effects that daily stress have on your body, are also happening at that Thanksgiving dinner, that you don't want to attend. 

So why in the world are you going? "Well, because if I don't....". Will some people be disappointed? Yep. Will they guilt trip you? Probably. Will the fact that they feel hurt, sad, etc. physically affect your body? NO! Selfishly speaking, the choice seems pretty clear. Plus, they'll be over it before the first slice of pie is served. Just in case that doesn't convince you, think about this. You've been or plan to be hyper focused on getting healthy. All of these parties and celebrations are huge distractions. They're the shiny object that's being dangled to pull your attention from the real thing you should be focused on. These distractions are simply focus shifting to the wrong thing. 

There will be invites to parties, potlucks, white elephants, gift exchanges, and on and on. Lots of shiny objects! Some of them will grab your attention and not cause you to jump off track completely, others could seriously derail your journey. You might be concerned that by bowing out, you'll hurt feelings, and you very well might. However, choosing your own health and sanity will always feel better in the end. If you're hyper-focused on getting healthy, going to tons of dinner parties can distract you from your normal routine. Shopping for gifts for the entire office will not only drain your bank account, it might also take you away from the workout you planned. 

Here's a technique for deciding whether to say yes or no. Run it through the "Healthy Me" filter:

If you can stick to your own schedule, keep your stress down, and still manage to maintain your own healthy lifestyle plan, then go ahead and say yes! If it causes you stress, prevents you from exercising, doesn't allow for healthy food choices, or just generally makes you unhappy. Say no! 

Your body and mind will thank you in January for not completely abandoning your own happiness in the the pursuit of everyone else's. Take a breath and give yourself a little grace and permission to continue to choose your own health, first. A healthy you is what all of your friends and family want anyway! 

So go do it! Look at your calendar right now and find the next obligation. Run it through the healthy me filter. If it doesn't make it through, it's time to come up with a way to decline. Yes you can! Once you've done it give yourself a serious high five and go do it again!!

P.s. Here's one more little tip: Sometimes "I'm sorry I can't" is all you need to say! Less is more, in both pie and excuses!! 

Happy Declining!!