No matter what holiday you're celebrating, it can be quite a stressful time for everyone. Between buying gifts, attending holiday parties and gatherings, decorating your home, and simply making sure that everything is just right for friends and family, it can quickly get overwhelming.

Overwhelm and stress take away so much joy from this otherwise beautiful season.

The holidays are about spending time with family and friends, enjoying the present moment, and celebrating whatever faith you prescribe to.

A really simple way to combat this holiday fatigue is to be present and grateful.

Think about it - when you're grateful you can't be stressed, and when you're stressed you're clearly not feeling gratitude.

So how can you practice gratitude on a daily basis without it becoming yet another thing on your checklist?

Here are some simple ways you can incorporate gratitude into your day in 5 minutes or less:

• Write down 3 things you're grateful for every morning and/or evening. (This can either be in a journal, or in your notes section on your phone.)
• Use Thank you and I appreciate you for often.
• Whenever you have something positive happening to you, simply think Thank you or I'm so grateful for...
• Find a five-minute gratitude meditation on Youtube to do whenever you feel it would serve you best. Often, it's helpful to start the day with gratitude as it is easier to keep up with the habit when you initiate early in the morning.

As with everything, practice makes perfect. You may not feel an immediate shift, but with time you'll find yourself relaxing more, your shoulders loosening up, you not getting as angry when your child throws a tantrum, and you more often enjoying the present moment more.

At Oakington Realty, we understand that the holiday season can be one of the most stressful times of the year. As you celebrate with family and friends, if you hear someone talking about how they're considering selling their current home in the Houston area, or if they would like to move here, please keep us in mind! We'd be honored and happy to serve your friends and family with the utmost care and respect.

With gratitude,

Oakington Realty