I bet if I gave all our clients a cortisol test in December, there’s no doubt I’d find sky-high cortisol levels! During the holidays, we seem to change out our good lifestyle habits for bad lifestyle habits. It’s like moving from the Nice list to the Naughty list! You have to ask yourself, “What Would Santa Do?”
For one thing, Santa has elves helping him – lots of them! He has Mrs. Claus preparing lots of healthy meals and making sure he gets in shape before the big 24 hour shift just around the corner. Santa doesn’t stress about Christmas – he’s got it dialed in!
What can we do to have a more joyful, less stressful December? Here is a list of my top ten suggestions that can help you through a hectic holiday season.
1. Simplify! Ask yourself, ‘do I really need to get this done before Christmas?’ What will happen if you don’t cross this or that off your list?
2. Prioritize! Cut your list down. You don’t really need to buy something for everyone. Keep it simple, don’t make things complicated.
3. Get Some Elves! Santa knows how to delegate — so should you! Don’t play the Christmas martyr.
4. Alone Time! Take a few minutes every day to be alone, to center yourself. Spend 10 minutes a day in meditation or just take a nice long bubble bath or a short walk!
5. Eat Well! Have healthy snacks handy like carrot sticks, nuts or snap peas. If you can have something healthy prepared, you can reach for that instead of all the sugary treats that seem to be in abundance this time of year!
6. Breathe! Remember when things get stressful to stop and take 3 deep breaths and think of one positive thing in that moment! You’ll be surprised at how well this works.
7. Pay It Forward! Spread the holiday cheer by letting someone go ahead of you in line at the store, or paying the toll for the person behind you. Pay a compliment to a stranger; you just might make their day and it costs you nothing! You can set a goal to make one compliment a day. You will soon see how good this will make you feel.
8. Believe in Miracles! This is the season of miracles. Look at the world through a child’s eyes; see how everything around us is one big miracle — a snowflake, the full moon or the starry skies.
9. Sleep! Take the time to get a good night’s sleep. Remember, cortisol levels spike when you are stressed and can cause a loss of sleep. Keep good sleep practices, go to bed on time, don’t spend a lot of time online before bed and don’t eat too late. Support your cortisol levels with products like Adaptocrine and Adrenacalm. Support melatonin by increasing serotonin support with products like Serene and Travacor. All of these supplements are available on our web site.
10. Enjoy! Enjoy the moment. This is the only moment we have. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow isn’t promised. Live in the here and now — your life is right now! Enjoy each moment just as it is!
I hope you found my list helpful. Stress is something we can help with at OVitaminPro. We specialize in testing and knowing what works best for people who suffer from chronic stress. There is no need to suffer at Christmas or throughout the year. Give us a call anytime at (877)465-0844! We can help!
We wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a most Prosperous New Year!
Thanks so much for this timely advice! I just spent the morning dealing with my health insurance company, when I’d rather be out for a walk. Knowing when I’ve “done enough” can be tricky…Now it’s time to step away from the computer and go outside. We are fairly “unplugged” regarding Christmas. I make agreements with friends to get together to walk, share a cup of tea or have lunch vs buying each other gifts. Personal time is much more precious and friendship has lasting benefits. Thanks oVitaminPro, for all you do. Your hearts are certainly in the right place.
Excellent tips for the holiday or anytime there’s alot going on in our lives which seems to happen so much we me lately. Taking time for ourselves and reminding ourselves to breathe is so important. My doctor has prescribed the Adaptocrine for my stress levels and it’s made a big difference. Thanks ovitaminpro!
All good advice–that and I take a yoga class right around the holidays–iRest is great. With all the bother about what to say in Christmas cards, I just send out New Year’s cards because everyone celebrates that day! Or valentine’s or even one year I sent out Earth Day cards!
Great advice! I typically don’t do much for the holidays and can feel when I’m “pushing it.” Then I reel myself back in. Christmas has become a far too commercial holiday and I don’t believe that’s what it’s about, so I really agree with your statement that you don’t have to buy something for everyone. A lot of gift-giving is among people that don’t really need more “stuff,” and so is just money being re-distributed among those who don’t need it anyway. I prefer to give to those in need at this time of year.
I like the idea of sending cards on other Holidays!
I love Adaptocrine as well! So good for the adrenals as well as blood sugar issues!
Thanks Alberta for sharing your thoughts!