How to Support Your Body This Holiday Season
As much as the holidays can fill you up with a little extra magic, warmth, and connection, it may also leave you feeling somewhat drained and derailed.
Supporting our bodies often looks different depending on the season we’re in. Like one of my favorite podcasts The Lazy Genius puts it: “Live in your season”.
What does this season look like for you? Maybe you have weeks off work, are shopping for this year’s white elephant gift, watching Home Alone for the 15th time, or baking your favorite treats. But maybe it also looks like trying to fit in random household tasks with your limited time off, feeling overextended for all the people you feel that you need to catch up with, or feeling all the emotions that come with family brokenness or even grief. On top of all this, you may also stress about what you should or shouldn’t be eating or if you’re exercising enough.
Instead of putting pressure on yourself to make this season look a certain way, eat a certain way, or exercise a certain way, be kind to yourself. Take a deep breath and pause during this busy December day.
Here are five things that I will be incorporating to support my body during this season. I hope you’ll join me, whatever this season may look like for you.
5 Tips for Supporting your Body during this Holiday Season
1. Eat balanced (protein + fat + carb with fiber) meals/snacks regularly: This will help keep your blood sugar and cortisol (your stress hormone) levels stable which will support your energy, mood, and keep you feeling satisfied.
2. Take 5 minutes (or more) a day to nourish your mind/spirit: whether it’s breathwork, meditation, prayer, gratitude, or journaling, these practices can help communicate to your nervous system that you are safe and can rest.
3. Incorporate easy movement: take a walk to see Christmas lights, go on a hike with a friend, do a quick online yoga class, or any movement that you enjoy. Invite a friend or take time for you.
4. Replenish nutrients: Vitamin C and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and sodium get depleted during stressful seasons which can affect energy, digestion, immune function, and other processes. Replenish these nutrients by having an adrenal cocktail. Standard recipe: 6-8 oz OJ + ¼ tsp salt + ¼ tsp cream of tartar (potassium source) + 1 scoop of magnesium powder (approx. 200mg).
5. Take a personal retreat: Take half a day or even overnight to do things that will fill you up. For my personal retreat, which I will likely do between Christmas and New Year’s, I plan to take some time to do a face mask, take a walk at the beach, read fiction, and reflect on this past year + set goals for 2022. Check out this podcast for a great how-to.
I hope these tips leave you feeling encouraged and that you can enjoy this holiday season with a bit more energy, peace, and grace.
