Is the holiday season making you feel stressed? Extra activities, decorating and socializing can leave you feeling exhausted and anxious. You may have expectations of the big day or feel obligated to ensure everyone is having a good time, especially if you are hosting a holiday gathering. It can be easy to get sucked into the whirlwind around you and lose track of the self-care habits you’ve implemented during the year. Bottom line, we all want to feel our best and have the energy to relax and enjoy the festivities.
Focusing on a few simple and consistent actions every day can make a big difference. Here are my top 3 tips:
1. Breakfast: Don’t Skip it!
Don’t skip breakfast. Your body has been fasting, digesting and processing the food from your last meal and needs the energy to function. If you have eaten later than usual or overindulged the night before you may not be hungry. Try to avoid this scenario as much as possible. Start your day with plenty of clean filtered water. Save your first cup of coffee or tea for after. Drinking warm water aids your body in flushing out toxins and helps with elimination and digestion. Eat a well-balanced breakfast with a good source of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Be present, sit down and chew your food. It’s hard to digest and assimilate your food as you are running out the door or driving to work.
2. Breathing
Pay attention to your breathing as you go about your day. If you are feeling anxious, notice the quality of your breathing — is it fast or slow? Are you breathing through your mouth or nose? Are you holding your breath?
The way you breathe affects all your body functions and your mental health. There are many breathing practices, including pranayama, which is a regular part of yoga practice.
Take a breathing break. Here is a simple practice to get you started.
- Notice any tension you are holding in your shoulders or other areas of your body.
- Take a slow breath through your nose, and exhale slowly through your nose.
- If you noticed that you were breathing rapidly, take a few minutes to slow down the pace of your breath.
- Focus on each inhale and exhale for 10-15 minutes, or longer until you can feel yourself beginning to relax.
Slow nasal breathing stimulates the relaxation response and calms us down. You can practice this throughout the day whenever you need it. This is a good practice when you are driving or waiting in line at the store.
3. Be Active
If you already have a regular exercise routine, stick to it. Prioritize your day or look at your day to see where your exercise routine can be rescheduled if necessary. Find ways throughout the day to keep moving — get out for a walk during your lunch break, meet up with friends for a hike, get up from your desk and do some stretching. Put on some uplifting music and have a dance break when you get home. Shake off the stress and let yourself feel the joy of moving.
However you choose to celebrate the holiday season, give yourself the gift of recognizing and caring for yourself. Happy & peaceful holidays to all.