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With Thanksgiving just days away and Christmas around the corner, we can all feel the added stress of the holiday season building up! The excitement of family get togethers, shopping for gifts, parties with friends and holiday fun makes it feel like the most wonderful time of the year. But when we spend more of our time on the holiday hustle, we spend less time taking care of ourselves and our health can take a hit. If we don't make our wellness a priority during the busy holiday season, we can get burnt out and sick from the stress. I like to create a special wellness routine and practice lots of mindfulness during the holidays so that I can stay healthy and enjoy the season. Here are my 5 tips to stress less and stay healthy this holiday season ...
Schedule Self Care
Self Care is essential for your health during the holidays! It can be as simple as a nap or as luxurious as a massage. But you must schedule it into your busy day! If it is not on your calendar, chances are you are not going to do it. I like to treat myself to a weekly 50 minute massage during the holiday season. It forces me to slow down and rest and rejuvenate my body and mind. Maybe you want to treat yourself to a facial at home or a relaxing infrared sauna session. Maybe for you its a weekly bubble bath with a good book. Whatever you do, schedule in your weekly self care date and put it on the calendar! Your body and mind will thank you.
Gratitude Journal
Writing down what we are grateful for every day can have a major impact on our health. When we are feeling gratitude, our body and mind releases chemical endorphins that lower stress in the body. How cool is that!? I find it very powerful to start my day with a gratitude. I have a special journal where I list out five things that I am grateful for every morning. I also find it helpful to free write on certain topics after I have made my list. This journal practice helps me stay grounded and process my thoughts and emotions in the morning before I am met with my to do list or my busy schedule. Get into the habit of practicing gratitude and really writing it all down, and you will find that you feel more relaxed and calm and happy.
Let Go of Perfection
This tip is for all my fellow perfectionists and recovering perfectionists! Because we all know that as much as we want things to do as planned, sometimes they don't. We all want the holidays to go perfectly and that desire to have it be "perfect" can really stress us out. So this year try to remind yourself that imprecation is natural and that it can even be more beautiful than the perfect version you have in your mind. Let go of the need for it all to go as planned and stay in the present moment. Embrace imperfection and enjoy the fun!
Prioritize Sleep
Sleep is so important for our mental and physical health. You should aim for 7-8 hours of sleep every night and add in some naps when you can! So although it might sound like a good idea to stay up and watch all the Home Alone movies in a row, you're going to feel it the next day with added stress. When we sleep, our body is able to restore itself emotionally, mentally and physically! So be sure to prioritize your sleep so that when you are awake you have the energy to enjoy the holidays!
Move Your Body
I know that working out might be the last thing on your holiday to do list, but it will absolutely help you manage stress during the holidays! When we exercise, our body is able to release stress and is flooded with endorphins! This gives us a mental and physical boost. I like to workout in the mornings before the rest of the house is awake. This gives me plenty of time to do a quick 20 or 30 minute workout on the app, some yoga or a run with the dogs. Whatever you decide to do, try to move your body for at least 30 minutes a day.