Are You Ready to Thrive This Holiday Season?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Or, is it?

I love the holiday season. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, our lives can be a whirlwind of activity.

We decorate, we cook, we shop, we visit, we attend parties, we attend events, we go and go and go some more. Plus, we do our normal everyday tasks.

Yep, it’s the most wonderful time of the year.

We’re going more, eating more, and stressing more.

Do you want to wake up January 2^nd realizing that the month of December was so busy you didn’t enjoy the season?

For so many years that is the way I lived. December was nothing but a list of things to do. Check-Check-Check – day is done.

When we live like that, we miss the joy of the season. We’re too stressed and too tired to care.

Would you like to make this holiday season different?

My goal is to lower my stress meter this month and I want to share my plan of action to meet this goal. I’m taking the natural approach to lowering my stress and I invite you to join me.

Enjoy a nice cup of hot water

Sipping on hot water, plain or an herbal tea, throughout the day will help your body eliminate many of the toxins that have built up in your body. With all the wonderful holiday foods we’re eating – think sugar – our body is in sugar overload. Choose multiple herbal teas that you enjoy and keep your hot water going throughout the day. Sip your tea throughout your day.

Spice up your life

From pies to diffusers, spices seem to be the focus of the holidays. Remember those clove studded oranges?

There’s a reason behind this spice madness. Our favorite holiday spices are considered warming spices; cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, and turmeric are our favorites. Load up your spice rack and essential oils and boost your mood during this holiday season.

Eat the COOKIE!!!

I know, not the best advice for us health conscience souls. But, it’s the holidays for goodness sake. All those delicious dishes are screaming to be taste tested by you and me. Don’t beat yourself up over all the opportunities to eat and eat some more.

Our goal is not to eat 7,000 calories in one day, I recently read that this is the average for Thanksgiving Day, but try to focus on what is important. You’re with family and friends, enjoy the conversation and the time together.

Here’s the simplest tip for enjoying your time around the holiday buffet and maintaining a healthy appetite; eat slowly. Focus on the people and the conversation, put your fork down between bites, savor the flavors of your favorite dishes. You’ll feel fuller when you eat slowly, eat less and no one will accuse you of being a diet kill-joy.

Morning massage

When is the last time you gave yourself a massage?

Get up a little earlier in the morning to give yourself some extra self-care. Using your favorite carrier oil, such as jojoba or MCT oil, mix with a few drops of a relaxing essential oil in a glass bottle, and place the bottle of oil in a container of warm water for about 5 minutes. Once the oil is warm, begin to massage from your head to your toes.  You can have a nice calming massage in about 10 minutes. There’s no better way to relieve your stress than a nice massage.

Sweet Dreams

So much to do, so little time. The holidays are so full of activities, that you may find yourself staying up later or not being able to sleep when you go to bed. Eating later in the evenings and constantly being on the go will definitely mess with your sleep.

Here’s my all-time favorite when sleep eludes me. A nice warm cup of golden turmeric spiced almond milk. Just warm a cup of almond milk, add a pinch of turmeric and cardamom spices and enjoy a night of sweet dreams.