Holiday blues are no laughing matter. Stress can kick in from dark cold days or even Florida days filled with shopping and family. Many of us get overwhelmed, which takes away the fun that makes the holidays special. I actually spent nine months of winter in Chicago once and experienced this firsthand. I remember when the tears poured down for no reason: my first inclination was to do something that makes me happy, “I’ll go to the health food store. Nope, more tears. Drastic measures had to be taken and here are my top favorites for you to try:
1. Take on a holiday hobby.
Choose something you really need to focus on. If you’re not good in the kitchen this may be your time to experiment with meal prep and recipes. The healthier food choices you make, the better you will feel and the less stress will take over. I realize the cookies seem so much better, but I promise it’s only a temporary resolve and if you want to knock out those blues, the flour and sugar won’t cut it!
2. Push-ups, squats, lunges and brush your teeth!
Kicking off your day with some hard-core movement will get the juices flowing and kick the holiday stress and calories away. They say it takes 21 days to create a habit, so for the next 21 days make a note on the bathroom mirror of your ideal kickstart routine and force yourself to follow it every day!
3. Mini-Staycation for the holidays?
When it’s simply too dark to deal with the day, or maybe you just have so much stuff going on that you’re beyond overwhelmed, take a mini holiday break. Summerize a bit by making your favorite summer smoothie with frozen fruit. Add in the straw and umbrella for an extra dose of vacation. Then kick back and relax with your favorite magazine and kick back and start choosing your summer wardrobe.
4. Dance like no one is watching.
Turn on your favorite tunes and set a timer for at least 15 minutes and have at it. Here’s the thing, with this I mean you need to really dance, jump, shake, and twirl your way to happiness. Get the body moving, sweating, and you will be feeling refreshed and ready to go before you know it. Bye, bye holiday blues!
5. Eat for energy, not comfort.
Winter always seems to mean rich thick heavy foods, this comes from the prehistoric man who needed that extra body fat to stay warm. For those up north, you can turn on the heat, for us Floridians you can open the windows and let the fresh air take over. On that note focusing more on healthier options will actually help make you feel good. Most processed foods will slow you down both in body and mind, which doesn’t really help when our mood isn’t quite at its best. Of course, the thought of those treats makes us smile, but when we eat them it’s totally a different story.
Self-care has been the big buzz word all year long, now make it happen. Combat the holiday blues by taking care of yourself. The better we take care of ourselves, the happier we are and the more joy we can spread to others. Go out an do something amazing for YOU today!
Happy Holidays,
Adita
