A lesson learned, hopefully: if I'm smart, I won't repeat the mistake I made this summer

Natural Health, Dec, 2001 by Rachel Streit

I OVERDID IT THIS SUMMER. FOR seven weekends in a row, my husband, Mitch, and I packed our bags, got in the car, and headed off to visit family and friends. We went to clambakes and barbecues all over New England. We swam in countless pools. We golfed on courses on the coast of Maine and in the Green Mountains of Vermont. It was wonderful to visit with everyone.

But as enjoyable as the socializing and traveling was, I felt depleted by summer's end. There had been no downtime. I stayed up too late too many nights. I rarely spent any time alone with my thoughts. The fast pace of working and playing had me constantly preoccupied with niggling details: How was I going to wash my clothes in time to pack them again? How could we politely pull away from our host early on Sunday to avoid traffic driving home? When was I going to have time to go to the supermarket? As a result I got a little ahead of myself. I wasn't enjoying life in the now. And life is far too precious to not appreciate it right now.

So here we are entering the thick of the holiday season and I find myself dangerously close to repeating my mistake of this summer. I'm tempted to do everything: find the perfect gifts for loved ones, accept every party invitation I get, travel to see faraway family and friends, and simply get swept up in the season.

But I run the risk of feeling stressed, harried, and empty again, if I don't rein that impulse in.

I know I'm not alone in the struggle to maintain balance. Knowing how to set priorities and examine your commitments (whether to work or family and friends) is difficult and takes a lot of practice. To help with this, we sought advice from our trusted medical advisor Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D. Drawing on her experience guiding patients (and striving for balance in her own life), we were able to put together a number of suggestions on how to make the most of your holiday time without overdoing it (see "12 Months to Total Wellness," page 62). I know I'll be putting that advice to good use.

How do you maintain balance in your life? If you know a good way, I'd love to learn from you. Write me at Finding Balance, Natural Health, 70 Lincoln Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02111 or email me at rachelstreit@weiderpub.com.

Wishing you good health,

RACHEL STREIT, Editor in Chief