What are you doing to keep your sanity, stay healthy and prioritize your continued wellness during this busy season when competing priorities seem to leave you last on the list?! I’ve created a Holiday Survival Guide and Wellness Challenge for the Bodies for Birth Community to help us all stay connected, healthy and calm!
I encourage you to print a copy and keep it somewhere you will see if often. Cross off each item as you go or continue this practice throughout the month!
So, we are decking the halls with health this year, here you go:
D: Diaphragmatic Breathing–one minute here and there can really add up in your breathing practice! Today, try to reserve some time during your commute or when you’re laying in bed before sleep. You might be surprised at how quickly you head off to dreamland!
E: Eat nourishing foods–do your best to make sure that at least 80% of your diet consists of whole, unprocessed foods! Steer clear of boxes, cans and those super long ingredient lists. Still enjoy those less nutrient dense options (think Cookie Swap, Holiday Parties) of course!! It’s easier to enjoy and stay on track when the rest of your diet is on point!
C: Cook more than you eat out–this can be hard to prioritize in the hustle and bustle, but it’s so worth it! Plan ahead and prepare in bulk! Think soups, roasted vegetables, pre-cut vegetables and overnight oats, quinoa and green smoothies to name a few! This is a huge passion (and a past career for me), so I’m always happy to lend support…please just let me know how I can help!
K: Keep perspective–yikes, this can be a hard one! I defer to “D”: diaphragmatic breathing, as it can make all the difference when stress begins to get the better of you. When the list seems too long, the financial burden too great, when the “shoulds” feel suffocating, take a step back…breath…check in with what’s truly important and prioritize those things!
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T: Take time for yourself–but, there’s so much to do! So many gifts to make/buy/wrap/deliver/ship! Well, I promise that it will still all get done…or not get done…oh well! Even IF you take 30 minutes to get out in the fresh air for a walk, to get cozy on the couch with a good book, to listen to your favorite podcast. THIS IS NUMBER ONE and ONLY YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN!
H: Have fun with movement–ask yourself…what do I love doing? How does my body WANT to move? What is it craving today? Is it gentle yoga in the living room? A brisk walk outdoors? Some interval training? Is it a group class for the motivation and support? Dancing to your favorite holiday songs? And, then…once you know…don’t delay! Do it!
E: Embody the energy you wish to create–this is a powerful one. Have you ever noticed how contagious our moods are? Have you ever recognized a foul mood in yourself or others and how it can contaminate an entire room? Alternatively, have you ever consciously tried to change that mood for your yourself? I challenge you to try it! Embody the energy you wish to create. Maybe you’re crabby, but don’t want to infect your family with the same mood. So, take some deep breaths and start by smiling. Practice turning off your bad mood like a light switch and recognize how much power we actually have to influence our own moods and energy…it’s pretty amazing. Instead of feeling victim to your mood, own it!
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H: Harness your creative potential–I love this one! And what better time to get creative than the holidays? Check out Pinterest for some fun inspiration! One of my favorite gifts to give is homemade bath and body supplies and you might be surprised at just how simple it can be to create body scrubs, bath salts, soaps. Put together a spa sampler for yourself and those you love–it’s always a such a wonderful feeling to give and receive something made by hand and with love.
A: Assess: energizing or exhausting? THIS! Apply to everything. And repeat. If it’s not energizing, not nourishing and serving you…find a way to modify or to cope. I understand that we can’t change all of our circumstances of course, but we can employ coping strategizes and ask for help. So, continually check-in and take stock of your energy, your reserves and make sure your prevent a state of exhaustion and depletion.
L: Listen closely to loved ones and self–how often do you have a conversation with your spouse, sibling, parent, friend etc to find that you only half listened? Ugh. We all hate that feeling and never mean for it to happen, but too often, the inner dialogue is competing and then we find that we’ve only been halfway present. I challenge you to put your phone down, move distractions aside and be as fully present as you can in conversations with those you love this month. See how it feels to apply to yourself as well…get quiet…maybe get out your journal…and see what’s truly going on in your head!
L: Let go of perfection: it doesn’t exist!–need I say more? Forget perfection. It’ totally overrated and a myth. Just keep doing your best, it’s more than enough and you are loved.
S: Squat, stroll and stretch–I couldn’t end this post without a mention of squats! So, squat, stroll, stretch…move in ways that serve and nourish you daily and feel that momentum as it carries you with strength and sanity through this holiday season!