The winter holidays are a time for joy and celebration, but they may also add stress and unnecessary distraction to our lives. From the disruption of healthy habits, to the added demands of shopping, visitors or visiting, it’s important to have a game plan. That’s why Venice City Lifestyle asked two experts to weigh in on how to reduce the stress and increase the YES! factor on holiday cheer.
Cultivating Holiday Peace of Mind
By Laurie Heller
The holidays are meant to be a time of happiness and cheer, but the reality is they can be stressful. Trying too hard, being too busy, or holding on to set expectations can create overwhelm. This season, why not aim toward peace of mind? You got this!
· Reflect – Contemplate what the spirit of the season really means to you and align your holiday goals to fit those core beliefs. Practice gratitude.
· Discern – What didn’t work last year? What was most stressful? Exclude it this year.
· Stay IRL – Eliminate or limit your use of social media. Those mesmerizing venues tend to showcase excess and the unattainable.
· Foster Family Traditions – Develop new holiday observances that feel good to you, such as walks on the beach, donating a stuffed toy to hospitalized kids, or making up your own words to carols.
· Ignore Negative Self-Talk – Internal messages like ‘I’m not doing enough’, ‘I always spend too much money’, or ‘If I don’t __ I’ll feel guilty’ do us no good. Breathe, find a meditation video on YouTube, or step out into nature and let it all go.
· Boundaries – Set realistic ones that help you feel in control and at peace: financial (be careful with those credit cards), energy (get rest, don’t burn the candle at both ends), drinking or eating too much (can make you “should” on yourself afterwards).
Laurie Heller, LPC, LMHC provides counseling services at Venice Island’s terra-firma-counseling-center.com. She is also a therapist at Venice Elementary via The Florida Center for Early Childhood.
Wellness = Happy Holidays
By Deniese Kragel
The holidays are notorious for tanking healthy habits. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, we tend to stop exercising and eat too much, resulting in an average weight gain of around 15 pounds. Don’t let that be you!
· Keep Wellness Front and Center – Emphasize moving more and eating thoughtfully. Maintain healthy habits and start new ones, like walking in the morning and going on active excursions with your family, friends, or on your own.
· Start Now – Don’t wait for Jan. 1 resolutions. Join a gym, take that Pilates or yoga class, or book a fitness trainer or nutritionist today. The adage, “wherever you go…there you are” also applies to “whenever.”
· Plan and Prepare – Keep healthy snacks like fresh fruit, vegetables, and nuts available. Always take some with you, and your water bottle, when you go out.
· Party Smart – Don’t go to a celebration hungry. Identify the ‘less-than-healthy’ foods you can’t live without and have a small portion. For each cocktail drink just as much water.
· Gift Wellness – A healthy cookbook, fresh exercise gear, a fruit or vegetable subscription, or a water or air purifier are only a few of the many possibilities.
· Rest and Relax – Take time each day to wind down. Just a few minutes of quiet time can help recharge your body and mind.
Deniese Kragel is a Wellness Coach with Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s RENEW (Restore and Empower though Nutrition, Exercise and Wellness) Program. Reach her on Instagram at deniese_kragel.
