Behavior Coach
Going home for the holidays can be such a beautiful thing…. until it’s not. Most families are not strangers to family drama, stress around the holidays, over spending, indulging in too many sweets, combative personalities, feuds and much more. Don’t worry it’s important to know that you are not alone.
Here are 10 quick tips to get you through the most stressful times this holiday season.
- Adjust your attitude. Go into everything with a positive outlook and have tools to best help you be present in the moment.
- Accept everything as is and not as you wish it were. Often times we are disappointed by the mere expectation we place.
- Do not engage in conversations that are upsetting in topic. Know your limits and know when to walk away for your own peace of mind.
- You hold all the power you need and the only thing you are able to control is yourself; anything else is outside of your jurisdiction and therefore does not ultimately matter.
- Don’t overdo it with drinks. Alcohol is known to lower inhibitions and can also be linked to combative or aggressive behaviors. Stay level headed.
- Move your body. Not only is exercise a great way to balance out the holiday diet but working up a sweat is also a great mood booster.
- Practice gratitude. Life, no matter how tough it gets gives us infinite reasons to be thankful and grateful. View your reasons as often and as frequently as needed.
- Patience. Spend too much? Ate too much? Have to deal with pesky family members? Remember this is a special occasion and not everyday life. Practice patience and tolerance.
- Remember your why. Why did you spend so much, overly indulge with sweets or go visit a family member you do not get along with…. you did it because it’s a special occasion.
- Take a deep breath or 100.
Whatever you need to get through the stress of the holiday season. Know that once this time passes it will be a memory so make sure to make it a great memory because only you can.
Structural Chiropractor
When you consider the structure of the head and neck, the most stable, functional, healthy place for the head and neck to be for long periods of time is in the neutral position, whether that is standing, sitting, or laying down. When you spend extra time with the head and neck in the improper positioning, it can effect the function of the nerves that control muscles in the body. So if you are standing, sitting, or laying with your head and neck in a poor positioning, then your body will become more achy, stiff, and fatigued. The reason this happens is because if you are irritating those nerves that control the muscles, the muscles become dysfunctional.
With time off work, people will typically have more time to lounge around, and this poor positioning of the head and neck starts to creep up on people. This can put a damper on together time with close ones. To stay feeling good and energized and stay away from the achiness, stiffness, or fatigue that lounging all day will sometimes bring, keep these few things in mind:
- When looking at your phone or reading a book for periods of time, just hold it up a little higher to keep the neck from being flexed down so far.
- When sitting on the couch or a chair for a long period of time, put a pillow behind your low back to keep the lumbar curve intact.
- When laying down on your side, make sure the head and shoulders stay in a somewhat neutral position, where the head is not flexed very much to either the right or left.
- If the head and neck are shifted out of position from some type of an accident or injury and the head, neck, or spine is having pain as a result, then that is fixable here at Structural Spinal Care. Give us a call or message us if you think this is the case.
Naturopathic Iridologist
While this is touted as, “the most wonderful time of the year,” it is quite easy to overindulge, feel burnt out or physically and emotionally exhausted. Some suggestions to help you get through are:
- Reduce or take a break from alcohol and caffeinated drinks (coffee, black/green/white/orange pekoe tea, cola, energy drinks, even decaf). Through their diuretic effects these drinks can rob your body of the very nutrients needed for stress recovery and energy – B vitamins, GABA (calming neurotransmitter) and magnesium. Consider swapping for restorative herbal teas.
- Enjoy berries and leafy greens to boost your vitamin C and B9 levels- – two nutrients the body uses a lot when we are stressed.
- Take naps or lie down when you feel the need. Practice the art of doing nothing more often. Rest is necessary for recovery from burnout.
- Have a small snack that includes nourishing fats and protein within 60 minutes of waking up and every 3-4 hours to avoid a sudden drop in your blood sugar and overeating. Almond butter, chia seed granola with coconut milk, avocado on toast or a hard-boiled egg are all good options.
- A good quality food enzyme and/or some Peppermint or Ginger essential oil mixed with a carrier oil and rubbed topically on the abdomen can aid digestive upset.
- Prioritize your self-care – take an Epsom salt bath, cuddle with your pet, get a massage, spend time in nature, watch a favorite movie. Allow yourself to feel whatever emotions you need to feel. If you do have to be around difficult people, it’s OK to just leave for an hour or two. If you feel you need more in-depth help, don’t go it alone – seek counseling.
If you’re experiencing burnout, sleep problems, changes in your mental health, anxiety, OCD, digestive concerns, depression, etc. please contact one our providers for help.
Success Coach
You did it! You made it to the holidays. Where do we go from here? How do we deal with the busiest time of the year? On top of all the other drama that has been going on this year.
A practice that is scientifically proven to change your mood and help you focus is a gratitude exercise. As we assess what this year has brought us we can focus on all the great things and all of the great people in our lives. There are a million things that could always be better or that need to be worked on and problems to be worked out. Gratitude exercises can help you stop the cycle of thinking there is always something that needs to be fixed. That is a much needed practice for our busy brains.
Often life‘s motto is, you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. Let’s not wait for a crisis or issue to recognize the beauty we have in our own lives. This practice does not take much time and it gives you immediate benefits.
This holiday give your achievements and your friends and family some recognition for the contribution to your life. South Florida health alliance is here for you as a resource to help you achieve your goals for your mind and body. Let’s bring in the new year together.