Women's Life Link Be Well, Be Happy, Be YOU!
I have gathered some savvy tips for whole health (body, mind, and spirit) in this practical article about weathering the holidays. It’s important that you take care of your needs during a time that can bring an array of stressful situations and emotions. Pay attention to how you feel throughout the holidays; give yourself some breathing space to enjoy just being. Please forward this link to anyone who might need some encouragement this time of year. Be well-be beautiful.
Your Body
Don’t abandon healthy habits. Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don’t go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks. Continue to get plenty of sleep and physical activity.
Don’t over commit yourself. Less is more. Relax by taking an aromatic bath (with pure essential oils); reading a good book; taking a walk; watching a funny show or a documentary that improves your knowledge. Get a massage or reflexology treatment. Laugh. Get enough sleep. Eat well. Play the music that makes you feel good. Meditate. All these things increase your immune system and your resistance to the flu.
My experience with holiday gatherings is this: You will overeat if you don’t do a couple of simple things. First, prepare your mind by telling yourself what is acceptable to you and your present dietary needs. Second, prepare your body by having a couple of fiber pills with a full glass of water before heading out for your next holiday party. Fiber supplements keep you from over-indulging by helping you feel full. Some fiber supplements can even help cleanse and detoxify your body!
Kellie R. Stone (Journey Coach)
Is the environment and reduced daylight a factor in wintertime sadness?
Animals react to the changing season with changes in mood and behavior. People change behaviors, as well, when there is less sunlight. Most people find they eat and sleep slightly more in wintertime and dislike the dark mornings and short days. For some, however, symptoms are severe enough to disrupt their lives and cause considerable distress. These people are suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Research studies have that found phototherapy is effective in treating people that suffer from SAD. Phototherapy is a treatment involving a few hours of exposure to intense light. This extra exposure to light while awake seems to correct symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.
Your Mind and Spirit
Don’t Let Family Blues Make Your Christmas Blue. If you’re lucky enough to have a large family, you know how you can feel pulled in a hundred different directions during the holidays. Everyone wants you at their house for Christmas, and while it’s great to be wanted, sometimes it’s little more than stress waiting to blow up.
Grief is a strange character that comes into our lives, almost always finds a way to cause an undoing of sort, and usually manages to put a damper on the holidays. No matter how long ago you lost a loved one, just remember that it’s alright to grieve. In addition, it’s okay to talk about your feelings with trusted friends and family. You will always miss the departed, but you can still have beautiful holidays filled with joy and laughter.
Kellie R. Stone (Journey Coach)
Embrace what is; this is the quick way to holiday enlightenment! The sooner you accept people and things the way they are and not the way you want them to be, the more likely you are to experience some real joy! While this is no easy pill to swallow when you are feeling lonely, rejected, or not up for going a few rounds with your family, this truth will set you free. Try it; it’s the perfect gift to give this season.
Right-size your expectations. If you’re aren’t quite ready to accept things the way they are, your next best bet is to curtail your expectations some. Try this (always works for me). Find someone less fortunate than yourself and do something wonderful for them. It’s a sure way to get an additional perspective. Sometimes we can get so righteous or stuck in our story we don’t leave any room for something different or magical to happen. The spirit of giving will soften your grinchy glare and open your heart up. ‘Tis the season to cut some slack. Plenty of time for therapy and analyzing everything and everyone come the new year!
No matter what religion you are or spiritual beliefs you have, this time of year gives opportunity to reflect on who you are and your true sources of joy. Prayer and meditation are an excellent way to calm yourself. Try to focus on some spiritual foundations that you find comforting. If it makes you happy, celebrate by going to a place of worship. If you like to share your faith at this time of year, then do it. Just remember that others may not believe the same things that you do; tread lightly. Telling friends and family about something that God did for you or how you have grown spiritually are perfect ways to embrace your faith without being overly religious.
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