Another year is coming to a close, but before we say hello to 2014, we are met with the challenge of the holiday season. Regardless of which holiday you celebrate, December is a month of high stress. I just wanted to take the opportunity to share with you some tricks up my sleeve to help you stay healthy and happy this winter.
Drink plenty of water. A good rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight, in ounces. Staying hydrated will help fend off headaches and keep your skin healthy.
Have some quiet time. If you have an iPhone, download the app GPS for the Soul. Even if you can only find a minute or two in your day, this app will guide you through meditations to keep stress levels down. (Thanks, Dr. Susan Lundgren for sharing!)
Check in with yourself regularly. Body awareness is important to helping keep stress down. Research shows that your posture effects how you feel. If you keep your shoulders up by your ears, your brain will think you’re stressed and will just make the situation worse. So relax those shoulder, loosen your grip and relax your hips.
Invest in your health. Many people are so focused on providing for others, that they put themselves on the back burner. Remember to take care of yourself! Whether it is treating yourself to gym membership, scheduling an appointment with a chiropractor (traditional or principled), taking some dance classes, building a relationship with a naturopath or getting a massage, it is important to keep yourself healthy so you can really enjoy your time with your loved ones.
Be grateful. Take a few minutes everyday for a dose of gratitude. People who fill their lives with positivity make healthier decisions.
I hope that you take these suggestions to heart and continue to make small changes throughout the year to help reduce the stress in your life and stay healthy!
