The most wonderful time of the year is upon us!
AND you wouldn’t even believe it (because I’ve been known to decorate on Sept 1 for Christmas), but I haven’t even decorated my tree yet. Although the tree IS up, so yay for that; step 1 is complete. Step 2 is happening tonight, along with some hot cocoa and vegan peppermint marshmallows (omfg so good).
Ohhh yes, magic IS in the air, but I’ll get off my unicorn for a moment and come down to earth. I know firsthand how the holidays can actually be stressful AF even when you want it to be wonderful. Routines can be disrupted, finances stretched, and someone kisses someone they shouldn’t under the mistletoe.
Something I have been practicing this year is PRESENCE & PROGRESS over PERFECTION. Would I like to already have my Thanksgiving menu planned, all the decor up, all my podcasts recorded, blogs written, family photos taken, OH AND making fresh salads everyday?
YES, HELL YES. 🤪
But practicing peace during progress and living presently are the most valueable things to me now.
It’s way more about how I feel than what people think of me, and taking care of my babygirl and business come before all the craziness of the holidays!
Which is why this blog post was so important to share!
It is SO damn easy to get overwhelmed AF during the holidays.
But it is not worth it.
How would you feel if you could go into the holiday season with a little more “you” time? What would it be like to savor and enjoy each moment with your loved ones and create lasting memories? What would it be worth to be a little healthier after Christmas instead of feeling guilty and depleted of energy?
I gathered a few easy ways for you to feel less stressed and more joyful this holiday.
Here are 5 stress-saving practices that will have you feeling more bliss and less Grinch this winter:
1.Be PRESENT. Not fake present, you know, where you’re pretending to be here but mentally you’re there. When you’re distracted, you rob yourself of all the joy that’s unfolding in front of you. Remember, it’s the little things that turn into cherished memories! Even the WTF-is-drunk-aunt-Sally-doing moments will become the funny, reminiscent stories you tell later on. So make the decision, RIGHT NOW to choose presence over perfection- and let that be your mantra every morning. One way to practice presence is through meditation, even if it’s just 5-10 minutes! There are so many great apps out there but one of our favorites is the Unplug Meditation App. Click HERE for a 7 day free trial!
2. Express gratitude. Gratitude is a game changer when it comes to your own mental health and happiness- but *expressing* gratitude is a gift that keeps on giving! According to Harvard Health, taking time to express your gratitude for another person strengthens that relationship and increases feelings of mutual appreciation. So here’s my challenge to you: once a week, go out of your way to tell one person how much- and why- you’re thankful for them. It will light them up and brighten your day too! Talk about true holiday spirit.
3. Delegate, delegate, and delegate some more. Santa has helpers for a reason! Whether you can hire assistance or join forces with your friends to divide and conquer that to do list. Working smart > hard will take pressure off so you can feel more on top of it all. For example, instead of cooking everything for the family at Christmas this year, opt in for a pot-luck or use a catering company to handle all the sides and desserts. This is what we did last year (bought all our Thanksgiving sides at Whole Foods) and we are having a Friendsgiving Potluck this year!
4. Exercise to keep your cortisol in check. Cortisol is the stress hormone. The right amount of it keeps you feeling energized and motivated during the day. Too much of it built up in the body is alllllll sorts of bad news. Don’t get me wrong, exercising is easier said than done this time of year. BUT, it’s not about killing yourself in the gym or even losing weight. It’s just about moving your body enough to establish physiological balance, so you can feel more psychologically balanced in turn. I’m a big fan of the Sweat App by Kayla Itsines because it has super effective at-home workouts, which make it easy for moms and business owners like myself. OR this 10 min workout from Blogilates YouTube has been my fave Get-Your-Morning-Started-Right quickie workout.
5. End the day with a self-care bath. You don’t have to be an introvert to feel a little taxed from the holiday’s abundance of social obligations. Setting aside time each night to fully recharge your battery means you’ll be able to give your best energy to the world come morning. So stock up on your favorite spa-like products (I’m currently obsessing over Milk Bath by Cuccio Somatology), put on a peaceful playlist, and soak up the solitude of your bathtime date for one. And if you’re into amazing ways to wind down your evening, check my monster blog post on ALL things perfect sleep HERE.
Tag me on Instagram if you find these helpful! xoxoxo
