An Important Reminder This Holiday Season

by Karen Elizaga | Posted: December 14th, 2011 | No Comments »

‘Tis the season to be jolly…. right? Awake at 513am for a spin class so that I can fit everything into my day, including an 830 dinner tonight, I am reminded of all the extra stuff that we do during the holiday season. The holiday cards, the shopping, the baking, the parties, the dinners… All those additional hours take their toll, adding stress to your life and to your body. Here’s an important reminder for you.

Take time for yourself! Really. Holiday stress causes all kinds of unexpected hiccups if left untended: sickness, anxiety and exhaustion, to name a few. Please remember to do the following!

• Sleep! I know it’s a bit hypocritical of me to say at the moment, but make sure you get your 7-8 hours of sleep when you are not partying the night away.
• Breathe! When backed into corners, we simply forget to breathe. Take deep, conscious breaths as you are walking to your next destination or while driving, and certainly as you lay yourself down to sleep.
• Exercise! Work off that extra stress (and the desserts and wine) by making time for exercise.
• Walk! If you can’t find time to exercise, get your walk on. Stairs at work. Furthest spot from the mall entrance. Around the block a few times.
• Love! Don’t forget that even though you’re working on showing your community your love through your holiday cards and gifts, you’ve got people right around you, maybe even at home that need your attention. Give it to them, and you’ll get it in return.
• Know when to say when! I’m not just talking about what we consume, but also the efforts that we put in to make this a “perfect” holiday season. Do you really need to stay up til 130am to wrap all those gifts or to make sure your kitchen is spotless? Nope.

Keep the holidays happy and healthy by paying yourself heed. It won’t be a merry holiday for anyone if you’re not well!