Self-Care for a Happy Holiday -
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, New Year’s Eve.....the days are racing by and it is easy to get caught up in the holiday frenzy. The season is supposed to be fun...happiness, love, friends and family. Unfortunately, it is also the season of "too"...too much fun, too much food and too much to do! It's vitally important that you make choices, live intentionally and take care of yourself. As a kid I was taught, "If Mom is happy, everyone is happy". It's true! Even if you are not "Mom", the saying can work. Just change the wording to, "If I'm happy, everyone is happy". Take care of yourself first and you'll have the health and energy to care for others.
5 Simple Holiday Rules to Live By
1- No mindless eating. Yes, it is ok to have a piece of pie. Just make sure you find the best piece of pie and savor each bite. (And go ahead, make it ala mode!)
2- Go to bed. Yes, sleep is crucial to health. Your body needs the 8 horizontal, eyes-closed hours to rejuvenate. Lying in bed reading or watching TV does not count. Close those eyes and go to sleep!
3- Move it. Take a walk, ride a bike or jog around the neighborhood. Have you watched a kid lately? They have energy. They are healthy. They are laughing. And yes, they are always moving. I think there is a lesson here.
4- Drink plenty of water. Hydration is critical in cold, dry weather. It can be easy to replace good old water with eggnog, coffee and too much wine. No! You want good pure water to nourish the body.
5- Just say no. If you really want to, go ahead and say yes. If you cringe, say no! Purge yourself of time-wasting people, shopping trips, parties and events that seem to sap the energy from your very soul.
With a little effort, the holiday season will find you and everyone around you happy. You may even find you have the time and energy to reach out to others. After all, isn't that what life is all about? Put aside the holiday "too much" and focus on your own self care. Trust me, it is worth the effort! As we move into 2012, I hope we can all look back and say, "This holiday season was so grand". Repeat after me, "If I'm happy, everyone is happy." (MORE BLOGS)