It's December, which for many it means that the holiday season is here—a time of joy, celebration, and connection. And although this is a beautiful time of the year, it can also bring stress and overwhelm. Balancing personal responsibilities, professional deadlines, social commitments and an endless to do list to check off can be challenging. This is why this month,I have created a short list to help you focus on health, wellness, and simple strategies to stay grounded amidst the chaos.
1. Prioritize Your Health: Body and Mind
Stay Active
Exercise releases endorphins that naturally combat stress. Aim for 20-30 minutes of movement each day— I love walks, yoga, or even a quick dance session can work wonders. My family and I dance a lot and we call these times "disco nights". We set some colorful lights and each of us chooses songs to dance to. The kids LOVE these nights. It's a way to connect, move and release stress. Plus it's free.
Eat Nourishing Foods
During festive gatherings, enjoy treats in moderation while filling up on whole foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. What you put at the end of your fork can shift your health in your favor or agains you.
Also drink plenty of clean spring water to stay hydrated.
Sleep Well
Aiming for 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night can improve mood, focus, and resilience to stress. I cannot stress enough - pun intended - that sleep is crucial for overall well-being, so get to bed early, ditch your phone at least 1 hour before bed, sleep in a dark, cool and decluttered room and remember this saying "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man happy, wealthy and wise" - Benjamin Franklin
2. Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a powerful tool to help you stay present and calm. Here’s how to incorporate it into your daily routine:
Deep Breathing
Take a few minutes to practice deep breathing—inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds. Do this for a couple of minutes and repeat it as many times as you need it in one day
Gratitude Journaling
Write down three things you’re grateful for each day. This practice helps shift your focus to the positive. If you don't have the time to write them down, make sure you take a few minutes and think about them. I like to do this in the mornings after I brush my teeth and my face but you can find the right time for you. Gratitude has been shown to significantly reduce stress levels and lift up your mood. I love what Oprah Winfrey said: "the more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate"
Digital Detox
Set aside time to unplug from devices and enjoy face-to-face connections or quiet moments. Set a time each night, for example at 8:00 pm, when you put down your phone and only use it for emergency. Use this time to connect to loved ones, take a long bath, read a book, meditate. Disconnect to connect.
3. Manage Holiday Expectations
Say No When Needed
It’s not only okay to set boundaries and say no to additional commitments that feel overwhelming., but very healthy too. Having healthy boundaries means having a regulated nervous system. I like to check in with myself before committing to endless events or gatherings and feel what is right for me and my family. I heard this saying once and fell in love with it: " If it's not a 'hell yes', than it's a 'no, thank you'.
Budget Wisely
Avoid the financial stress of the holidays by planning and sticking to a budget for gifts and activities. Think of things that would make your friend, family and you happy. Don't just buy the material gift, often times the thought is what matters, not the actual gift. And this takes us to the next tip.
Focus on Meaningful Moments
Prioritize experiences over material things. A heartfelt conversation or shared laughter often means more than a physical gift.
4. Connection and Community
Check in with loved ones
A quick call or message can brighten someone’s day, including yours.
Give Back
Volunteering or helping someone in need is a great way to foster a sense of purpose and connection anytime, but especially for the holidays.
Seek Support
If the holidays feel especially heavy, reach out to friends, family, or a professional for support. You’re not alone.
5. Simple Grounding Techniques
When I find myself twirling in overwhelm, I like to use these quick practices:
Physical grounding. If it's possible, walk barefoot outside to ground yourself. If that is not possible, lay on the floor close to the wall and put your feet up on the wall. Put on some relaxing music, a meditation, an essential oil diffuser or just enjoy the silence and you own company for 10-15 minutes.
Nature Breaks: Spend time outdoors. Even a short walk can reset your perspective and reduce stress.
Create a Cozy Space: Set up a calming corner at home with soft lighting, blankets, and your favorite book or tea. Stay away from electronics and just enjoy a cup of tea and a couple of pages from a favorite book, or magazine.
Connect to your breath: Focus on deep breathing for a few minutes to get back to the present moment. Deep breathing relaxes the nervous system and brings you out of the fight or flight mode in a matter of minutes.
Inspiration for the Season
"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you."— Anne Lamott
Let’s make this holiday season one of connection, joy, and self-care. Remember, the best gift you can give yourself and others is your presence.
I am attaching a forever favorite recipe for the holidays:
Gingerbread Cookies
2 1/2 cups almond meal
1/4 cup coconut flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 pinches ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
50g butter, melted
1/2 cup rice malt syrup or maple syrup
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 teaspoon vanilla powder
1 egg
Method
Place almond meal, coconut flour, spices, salt and baking powder in a food processor and pulse briefly. Add butter, rice malt syrup, orange zest, vanilla and egg. Pulse until dough forms a ball. Wrap in cling wrap and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours.Preheat oven to 355°F. Roll dough between 2 sheets of baking paper until 1/2 inch or less thick. Cut into shapes with a cookie cutter and place on baking paper-lined trays. Insert small holes if you’d like to thread through some ribbon afterwards.Bake for 10-15 minutes until they have a light golden brown tinge around the edges. Cool and tie with ribbons and/or package up as a lovely sugar-free gift for loved ones. Enjoy.
Happy Holidays and lots of health, love and joy!
Andrea
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