‘Tis the Season for Self-Care

Holiday Self-Care

Tips for Nurturing Your Health While You Celebrate

The holidays are a special time of year. They offer us a chance to step away from normal routines, to enjoy treats of all kinds, and to show the people we love how we feel about them.

But the festive season can also be a challenging time, filled with temptations that may lead to poor choices for physical and mental health.

Here are a few of our favorite self-care tips to help you nurture your health while you celebrate.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry – In Moderation

Festive feasts aren’t always the healthiest, which can make it difficult for anyone trying to be mindful about what they are eating.

It’s ok to indulge if you do so in moderation. But remember, don’t beat yourself up if you do stray. Negative self-talk will only make it harder to get back on your healthy eating plan.

Too much holiday splurging can also contribute to some unpleasant aftereffects such as heartburn, indigestion, or bloating. This is particularly true if you’re celebrating with food and drink you don’t normally consume.

Our bodies come equipped with digestive enzymes that help process the food we eat. These enzymes enable us to absorb the nutrients we need and get rid of what we don’t. During the holidays when you may be eating a lot of rich or processed foods, your body might benefit from some additional digestive assistance.

Supplemental digestive enzymes can help. Before your next holiday meal, seek advice from a natural medicine expert to make sure you’re taking the right supplement for your body’s unique needs.

Slow Down

Slowing down may sound counterintuitive during a time when there’s so much to do. However, the act of purposefully slowing down will help you be more present for the joy of the season.

You can do this by deliberately bringing your focus to your breath during moments you want to savor. Pay attention to the expansion and deflation of your belly as the air comes in and goes out of your body.

This simple act of noticing the breath will help you slow down and be truly present for those important moments.

Recharge and Reset

Taking time for yourself during a busy holiday season will help you be more present and prepared for your loved ones. Even short breaks can help.

Treating yourself to a soak in the bath is a nice way to unwind. Add essential oils with ingredients such as lavender, chamomile, patchouli, or blue cypress to make your bath even more rejuvenating.

Taking a walk is another good way to recharge your batteries. Because we evolved as part of the natural environment, humans have an innate connection with nature. Research shows that walking in nature can help reduce stress, improve mood, and increase our ability to concentrate.

Our bodies and minds thrive when we are immersed in the outdoors. This holiday season take advantage of the human-nature connection by enjoying a walk after meals.

Hush Your Inner Critic

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by your holiday to-do list. Making sure you get everything done – and that it’s all perfect – is a trap many people fall into during the festive season.

Keep an ear open for negative self-talk at this time of year. Whether it’s about your to-do list, food and drink, or difficulties with family members, be aware when your inner critic is speaking up. You may not be able to change the situation, but you can change your response to it.

And the first step is to quiet your own inner critic. Instead, speak to yourself like you would talk to your best friend.

Say Thanks

The holidays are a perfect time to practice gratitude. When you focus on the good things in your life, it’s much easier to put the “bad” on the backburner.

Research shows that focusing your mind on what you do have, rather than on what you don’t has big benefits for physical and mental health. This practice helps boost self-esteem and reduce worry and anxiety.

Regularly practicing gratitude trains your brain to default to gratitude more often, so the more you’re thankful, the more you’ll focus on the good things in your life. Make a start this holiday by reflecting on the love and support you receive from family and friends.

Don’t Skimp on Sleep

Sleep may be the last thing on your mind when there’s so many fun things happening during the holiday season. But this is when your body and mind need sleep the most.

When you don’t get enough sleep, you may feel less resilient in difficult situations or when troublesome feelings arise. Lack of sleep can also have a negative impact on your body’s ability to fight off infections.

Try to get between 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. To improve your sleeping habits, consider a digital sunrise/sunset ritual. Choose a specific time in the morning to start looking at your phone (or any other digital device) as well as a specific time in the evening when you will shut everything off. Setting boundaries around your screen time will help you improve your quantity and quality of sleep.

Give Yourself the Gift of Wellness

During the holiday season, it’s easy to set aside our health when there are so many distractions competing for our attention. This year, make a plan to take care of your wellness now, rather than waiting until the new year. To start, why not give yourself the gift of a consultation with a natural medicine expert?

Nature’s Link Wellness Center offers natural health consultations in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. Board-certified naturopathic doctor Kristine Devillier and her team of experts provide education, treatments, and solutions to support good health, natural healing, and disease prevention.

For a customized plan to help nurture your health through the holidays and into the new year, get in touch with our team today. You can reach us at 337-332-2705 or online.