Hacking The Holidays: An Optimist's Guide to OVERCOMING Holiday Hurdles

Ah, the holidays.

A time when the days contract and the heart expands. The very best time of year, a reasonable person could argue.

But all the glitters isn’t gold, and while you’re hard-pressed to find more festive folks than us at Life is Good, we understand that one may run into some seasonal, um, snafus.

So without further ado, here is your trusty guide to keeping the optimism in the face of some common holiday hurdles.

Mariah, Mariah, MariAHHHH!

The holidays without Mariah is like a tree without ornaments. An elf without a shelf. A wedding without Shout!

Mariah Carey’s 1994 eight-times platinum record, Merry Christmas, begins playing when the oven dings for the Thanksgiving turkey and doesn’t stop spinning every until the ball drops on New Year’s Eve.

Understandably so. Mariah’s angelic voice and soulful renditions of holiday classics captures the true emotion of the season.

But, Mariah fatigue is real, and if you find yourself involuntarily mouthing the words to All I Want for Christmas Is You in work meetings or dental chairs, may we suggest Michael Bublé’s soul-stirring 2011 album, Christmas?

Your partner going to great lengths to prove that 'Die Hard' is not only a holiday movie, but the greatest holiday movie of all-time.

You desperately try to convince him that Christmas is merely a backdrop for more nefarious plotlines and that the film is totally void of traditional holiday themes, but he’s already left the house to picket in the streets.

Compromise is key, so we advise you concede Bruce Willis is basically Kris Kringle so you guys can snuggle up in peace and watch It’s A Wonderful Life.

It is, after all, the greatest holiday movie of all-time.

Daylight Saving Time: When any time could be bed time.

The transition into celestial darkness can throw off your equilibrium. We suggest heeding the advice of nature and embracing day’s end. The holiday season provides an opportunity to journey within.

So slip into our Chillin’ Sloth Sleep Joggers before dinner, light some ambiance candles, and take stock of all you’re grateful for this holiday season.

In fact, that sounds quite nice right about now, 4:12 pm.

White Elephant anxiety.

The White Elephant Exchange is the only holiday event that encourages a betrayal of loved ones in pursuit of material gain.

Tactical strategy during the season of giving is counter-intuitive and may incite anxiety, but as long as you’re of the mindset that the experience in itself is the real gift, you’ll find joy in getting your Life is Good Grinch gear stolen for a toilet brush.

After all, in the words of the Grinch himself, the best things in life are not things.

Happy holidays to all, and to all a grateful night.