Michelle Marie Health & Wellness

And just like that we are into the holiday season – how does time go by SO fast?!

This past weekend I made a quick trip to Home Goods where it really hit me (as I stared at aisles of Christmas decorations) that the Holiday season is fast approaching. This time of year happens to be my absolute favorite, but also comes with a lot of added stress. Two months of jam packed family events, work socials, cookie swaps, decorating and endless amounts of shopping can take a toll on you mentally but also physically on your body.

Stress has so many immediate negative effects on the body. These effects can be both mental and physical. Stress can induce chronic disease, anxiety, depression, heart attacks, panic attacks, and other difficult health issues. Matter of fact, 90% of all chronic disease is caused by stress, and to make it worse, about 70% of the population knows that they are stressed out and only about 25-30% try to do something about it.

Is this ringing true to some of you?

Do you wish you could slow down during this time of year?

If so, I am here to help…

The Holiday season should be a special time, one where you can reflect on your year’s accomplishments and share genuine time with family and friends. So here is the trick, it’s so simple – just add mindfulness. You might be thinking “oh sure, that’s easier said than done” or “what does that even mean?”

The definition of mindfulness is;

mind·ful·ness
noun

1. the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.
“their mindfulness of the wider cinematic tradition”

2. a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

Okay so how do you put this into practice? Here are a few examples of how easy it can be to add mindfulness during the holiday hustle;

• Say No – You do not have to attend every holiday gathering you are invited to!! Seriously, it is important to prioritize your time. Choose to attend events that mean something to you or have friends or family you would love to see attending.
• Self-Love – Schedule time for you. Your weekends might be fully booked but put some time on your calendar (literally block it off) on a Wednesday or Thursday evening just for you. You can simply do nothing – lay on the couch, read a book, take a bath. You could attend a yoga class, take a nap, or go get your nails done. This doesn’t have to be for long – even 20 minutes moms!! Tell your husband to play a board game with the kids and retreat upstairs. These little acts of self-love will allow you time to reflect and slow down allowing you to truly enjoy all the hustle and bustle that follows.
• Give Back – This is what the Holiday season is truly all about, right?! Make an effort to schedule one event or activity to give back this holiday season – don’t just write a check to charity, really go out and help someone. The joy and satisfaction this brings is like no other.

I hope these three tips help you reset and head into the Holiday season with a different outlook 🙂

I am very aware that some of the Holiday stress comes from the endless events of eating and drinking (which may seem like a nightmare for those trying to stay on track or lose weight) so click here to read how to tackle those negative food guilt feelings!