The 3 Wise Things to keep you calm/sane this Christmas season

Lately on social media I've been seeing so much stress, commotion, and fear. It's hard not to get caught up with all of the crazy things going on in the world, especially when our lives provide us with enough stress to begin with. I love the Christmas season because something happens that just makes me more observant and reflective about what is going on and I'm able to look back on the past year of my life from a different perspective. However, Christmas time can also become a very stressful time if we let it. Things like finals, travel plans, Christmas shopping, and making plans to reconnect with old friends and extended family definitely put stress on some people. So I figured I would list the top three things that I have found make me feel tranquil and content during all of the end of the year chaos.

1. Listening to/making music. I have no idea how people get tired of Christmas music. I do a lot of driving for work, but I never even bother to plug in my own music. I always search the radio for the Christmas hits. A few nights ago, a slower, more spiritual song came on as I was driving home from work late at night. I was so surprised because all of a sudden I just started crying. It was one of those peaceful cries though; I felt really happy and touched. No matter how lame you feel at first, making music is so much fun. Whether you actually try to sound good and in synch with the rest of your family, or are making fun of your little brother's excessively loud singing, you're bound to feel content while caroling. Every year, I play the piano while my family sings Christmas songs and it's one of my favorite traditions. I used to play harp when I was younger and just recently pulled out all of my old stuff and am starting to practice playing Christmas songs. What Chid is This? (also known as Greensleeves) is my favorite song of them all. Christmas music is definitely my #1 go-to to calm me down and make me happy during the holidays.

2. Even while my mom is in school, she has always made time for this little tradition in our home. She makes cinnamon tea everyday, "canela" (cinnamon in spanish) as we call it, and every time I get home I can expect the aroma. Any friend who has come over to my house has probably been offered it about 5 times until they finally budged and said yes. It's so good. Just sitting down, chatting, and sipping on my favorite tea calms me down and helps me unwind after my day. Even my dog likes it!

It's super easy to make too, just go to the store and buy those really big cinnamon sticks. All you have to do is stick one in a pot of water and let it boil until the tea is a deep red color. Then just add sugar (I add one tbsp.) and milk (I like mine without) to taste.

3. Spending time with my pup! Lately I've been giving lots of attention to my dog Nala, and I think it benefits me more than anything. Dogs have a way of making you feel like the most special person in the world, even if all you did was take them to get groomed or play fetch with them for a couple of minutes. My family has always been big on keeping dogs outside (especially because Nala swims so much), but we can't help but budge and let Nala hang out with us. Even though she's crazy and has so much energy, she has such a calming presence that makes us all so happy.