The holiday season is almost upon us. For many people, that means a time of increased stressors, expectations, travel, less sleep, and an abundance of deliciously bad-for-you food. Getting pulled in so many different directions leaves many of us feeling stretched thin, stressed out, and disconnected. While there is no magic bullet to cure the chaos of the holidays, there are some ways we can manage it with a little more ease and grace. Here are two of my favorite suggestions.
Keep a gratitude list. Do this every day, ideally as part of a bedtime routine or at any point you have available in your day. Sit down and list three things you are grateful for that happened that day. They don’t have to be huge, earth-shattering things, but they can be. For example, you might write,
1. I am grateful that whenever I need gas, I can fill up my tank, and my car takes me wherever I need to go.
2. I am grateful for the sandwich I ate for lunch. It was so satisfying to taste and look at, with all the various colors of the bread, tomato, and lettuce.
3. I am grateful to have seen the sunrise and the beautiful orange, red, and pink colors in the sky.
The idea of a gratitude list is not to ignore or pretend difficult things don’t happen. It can be a powerful tool that allows you to reframe difficult moments or remember that even when difficult things happen, good things are also happening simultaneously. By actively remembering the good, we begin to train our brains to start looking for other good things, big and small, happening in our day, which leads to an overall sense of improved well-being.
Add in some supplements. Some supplements that might also support you mentally and physically over the holidays are Ashwagandha and Kava root. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, which means it responds in the body based on what you need at that time. It has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol, improve mood, decrease depression and anxiety, and support healthy immune function. Kava is another botanical remedy that has been well-studied for both insomnia and anxiety with good results. It has also been referred to as, social lubricant” not because it alters you like alcohol might. It lets you relax a little and go with the flow.
If either of these interests you, you can find them through my Fullscripts account at https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hummingbirdhealthcare
You can also buy them at my office in Lenexa.
Keep checking back for more tips on navigating the holiday season with more grace and less stress!
