If you’re running ragged and wondering how to enjoy the holidays more, you are not alone. The topics and magazine cover titles about stress, weight gain, weight loss, recipes, party ideas, and crafts to make on the spur of the moment are everywhere. It’s enough to make you want to pull the covers over your head and wait till it’s all over.

Here’s a plan that will carry over to the New Year and help you enjoy all days, not just the holidays. I call it the “Book-End Plan.” In case you don’t know, a bookend is a support that comes at the beginning and end of a row of books. The first book-end in your life is your morning and the last one is a set time in the afternoon or evening.

The good news is that you don’t have to buy anything or create anything for your morning book-end. Simply do something you like. Allow enough time to enjoy your morning plan. Here are some suggestions.

• Read a meditation or devotional thoughtfully appreciating the day and that you are breathing.
• Do some yoga.
• Enjoy a cup of your favorite tea/coffee.
• Write a page in your journal (perhaps about a dream you had last night).

The second book-end marks the end of your day and helps you wind down. It could come at the end of your work day or while you are getting ready for bed. The important thing is you pick a time that you can allow yourself to stay relaxed for the rest of the night.

This doesn’t cost anything, and you already have ideas of things you’d like to do even if you haven’t done them. Maybe you’ve been wanting to sit in a candlelit bath, so why not try it now? Or maybe you’d enjoy spending special time with the kids. Change it up and make it special, something you will look forward to.

Starting the day off on a positive note inspires you to tackle holiday and work tasks. Sure, there’s always more to do. That’s what we call stress! But, if you know that at the end of your day, (the other book-end plan) is waiting for you, you will transition the day, enjoy it much more, and sleep well.