Make Wellness a Priority During the Holidays and Winter Months

During the winter months, darkness comes earlier in the day, colder weather sets in, and the commitments of the holidays can leave a person feeling sad, anxious, and/or overwhelmed. That’s why it’s especially important to focus on your well-being even when it doesn’t seem easy. Below are some tips to maintaining wellness during the winter months and holidays.

Get enough sleep (a minimum of 7 hours).

Lack of sleep can leave us feeling foggy-brained and less focused, which means it can take longer to complete even routine tasks. It can also make it more difficult to manage emotions such as anger, sadness, anxiety and irritability.

Drink plenty of water (a minimum of 64 ounces daily).

There are a number of benefits to keeping hydrated, including the following:  it eliminates toxins from a person’s body; delivers oxygen throughout the body (blood is 90% water), and lubricates joints. This leads to better mental and physical health.

Have an attitude of gratitude.

Waking up each morning and identifying three things for which you are grateful helps put you in the right mindset as you prepare for the day ahead of you.   

Wake up 10 to 15 minutes earlier.
Get up a little earlier each morning so you can take a few minutes to engage in meditation, prayer, positive affirmations and/or another activity that proves calming to you and helps get you centered for the day. There have been whole books written on how having a morning routine has a significant positive impact on a person’s day.

Engage in at least 20 minutes of physical activity for at least 20 minutes, five days a week.
This could include anything from taking a walk, lifting weights, yoga or any other physical activity you enjoy. Numerous studies have indicated that physical activity decreases anxiety, depression, and stress.

Avoid over-consuming or regularly consuming highly processed carbs, including sweets.
Eating highly processed foods temporarily raises blood sugar levels and provides temporary increased energy. However, this is followed by a rapid decrease in blood sugar which leads to a foggy brain, decreased energy and a craving for more highly processed carbohydrates.  

Let go of perfection.
Attempting to find the perfect gifts, make the perfect holiday meals, and host the perfect holiday party adds a lot of unnecessary stress. People are not looking for the perfect holiday experience.  They want to spend time with friends and loved ones.  

Extend small acts of kindness to others.
Find a way to extend acts of kindness. A smile, holding the door open for someone, a compliment, lending a listening ear, and volunteering to serve others food at the homeless shelter are easy ways to support and encourage others. Extending acts of kindness to others, can decrease anxiety, depression and stress.

Don’t over-commit to events and activities.   
Saying yes too often can make us emotionally and physically exhausted. Make sure you are putting your own oxygen mask on (take care of yourself).  It is only then you will be able to help others.

At the end of each day, identify three things that went well.
This puts you in a calm space, so you can sleep better.