The snow is swirling- the calendar is filling up- a busier season, a time to connect with loved ones and friends, yet a time with extra obligations and to do’s. Well, Holidays CAN be merry and fabulous for you: see below.
#1 Stick to Real Life (aka, the Holiday Construct Ain’t Real).
In the palm of our hands, we view what others are up to, carefully constructed by ad makers, or people putting in time at home. We view- and hear- an astounding array of ‘holiday’ things to help us create the ‘perfect’ season. We source foods, gifts, outfits, decor, baking, crafts, cleaning, pj’s! even home improvements! and then try to satisfy every task and everyone on a list. We consume these media constructs- and that’s stressful. The ‘easy’ garland of white paint icing on cardboard to make gingerbread houses comes to mind. Simple garland? Nope. What we are consuming is a monumental effort created for our 15-second evaluation, only to be followed by the next one. It sticks with you- but it’s not real: push it away. Instead, breathe- and speak the truth: we do not benefit from most of these (foods, gifts, outfits, decor, baking, experience) ideas. Breathe again, long and slow, breathe in then out. Speak the happy truth – these ideas? They are unreal, and they are extra.
#2 Construct Your Own ‘ Merry.’
Now, realizing that no one can or should attempt to create the impossible holiday world we view around us, we can take a good hard look at the extra things we said we’d accomplish weeks, even months, ago – alongside our regular responsibilities, of course. For healthy holiday self- care, we realize that life will be more smile-filled when we learn that expectations we create should be weighed against the contentment of flicking them happily away. Keep only a few expectations that are truly joy- filled (your heart will know which ones).
#3- Crush the Holiday Clock (=Also a Construct).
That’s right. Just because the year is ending and it’s ‘holiday season’ does not mean a giant list must be completed. The words early, late and last-minute permeate every flyer and ad. Take a breath. Put your hand out in front of you. And push these deadlines aside- yes, push them aside, right now. Time element language can trigger stress, guilt, even anxiety. We are not running out of time in most ‘holiday’ scenarios. The proof? Imagine some item not done on time, or at all. Often the consequence is minimal, and we see a self-imposed expectation. Reframe this year-end clock, and remember it’s driven by revenue: businesses needing a successful year end (think memberships, grocery and big box stores, travel and tourism, technology, everything from matching jammies to eggnog muffins). Push back on the time crunch, and crush that holiday clock.
#4- Enjoy Day by Day to Cut the Stress.
This is the heart of it, right here: you can rise to expectations you place on yourself because it’s ‘holiday’, or you can pause, push away most of them, say, nope. Day by day is good. You can say, today, I will balance what I think I want against feeling good without it. When we resolve to move through our day in the moment, we find relief and exhilaration in the extra energy. Move forward with a clean slate and edit out things we expect to be, to do, have, create or buy– just leave that circus. To relieve stress, support immunity and improve mood[1] a simple, delicious solution is to add the benefits of adaptogenic Dodjivi Premium Mushroom Coffee to your every day. A regular routine which includes this easy self care will fortify your immunity, and enhance your day-to-day with the balanced energy and focus of Arabica coffee and no caffeine rush, jitters, or crashes. And immunity supported means cellular stress alleviated- ahhh.
#5- Gift Yourself First.
This next is a selfless, not selfish act. It begins with fifteen minutes here, a couch movie fest there, a detoxifying bath (add 1 cup apple cider vinegar to release daily environmental toxins) or a vitality-boosting Dodjivi latte (just add pure peppermint, cocoa and maple syrup as a treat for you alone, sit and enjoy). When we give ourselves purposeful Time Gifts – even fifteen minutes- we restore what makes us better. We regroup, gain hope, feel contentment, as we sit in the present, enjoying the moment at hand and the time we choose to take. Might be just built-in minutes some days, but they’re purposeful. Not scrolling, not worrying, but instead smiling, in-the-moment, and for yourself. That hour of fitness you need (have you ever regretted a walk, spin class, or yoga?), that morning time with a book before anyone else is up. They purposefully restore your ‘merry’, and if you’re okay, your view becomes rosier. Time Gifts are like putting the oxygen mask on yourself first, to have energy for the hustle and bustle, so make them a habit to continue long after New Years.
#6- Find Pieces of Joy
Every day can bring bits of joy, and it’s all about the lens you look through (this goal’s about mindfulness, like #4). Healthy holiday self care means changing your perception to find wonder-filled pieces and building them into a day is significant to better mental and physical health, reduced stress and contentment. Add three minutes to your drive, slow down and notice the beauty of seasonal lights as you go through a neighbourhood, or stop and notice your snowy front steps that look like they’re coated in powdered sugar. FaceTime your toddler nephew, reach out to your great aunt, or appreciate the kitty who climbs into your lap to snuggle. Buy a few foods in favourite holiday flavours- peppermint, orange extract and cinnamon each add deliciousness to a cup of cocoa or a Dodjivi Premium Mushroom Mocha (add coffee to cocoa and wow! An adaptogenic mocha coffee for stress relief. What a delicious holiday wellness routine!). Enjoy the moments, and tally up the pieces of joy: they will shine among everything else.
#7- The Best Revenge is Feeling Great
All the holiday goals add up to this final goal: feeling great, the best that you can, adds real and enduring wellbeing to all that you need to be and accomplish. Simple as that. Health is your true wealth. Feeling your best is the best revenge against the hype of the season: a lesson to hold onto, because it does not change. Feeling your best starts right away- not tomorrow. Things like moving for a half hour to raise your heart rate, or staying hydrated to detoxify, gain energy and think clearer (movement and hydration flush out stress hormones because they improve motility). Things like adding amazing daily functional foods to strengthen the microbiome[1] by providing immune-modulating beta glucans [2] – a cup or two of Dodjivi Premium Mushroom Coffee checks off all the boxes to feel great, and building a simple routine of immunity support with delicious coffee balanced by functional mushrooms means energy and focus, in balance with health support. And that’s nothing short of amazing.
Best in health for your holidays,
Martha
Martha Kenney Burbank, R.H.N
Holistic Nutritionist + Health Coach at KenneyBee Holistic Health
