The Holiday Jungle
^^Watch the video here^^
How is everyone doing on this December afternoon?
It is a truly a jungle out there. This time of year is so crazy with everyone rushing around, trying to get it all in. Why, why do we do this to ourselves… is it truly worth it?
What if we stopped the madness and changed things up and had a fun, exciting and… chill time? Close your eyes and imagine how that would feel, so amazing. Right? Well, you can, and we are doing this together. We are all going to take a stand and support one another and change things up. I declare, no more jungle for us, this year we chose what we want to do, this year is going to be filled with so much balance we will never need to take yoga or meditate again....
Well, let's not be hasty, better keep that in the mix. But I am serious, I need this, you need this… make it so!
Hey did you know, that stress affects the body in profound ways... of course you know, but here are some reminders.
Your heart could pound and your breathing will become shallow.
Your immune system could be decreased, and you will get sick easier.
You could have a decreased sex drive.
Your muscles could be sore.
You could experience headaches.
Your body could struggle to digest food.
OK, well the list goes on and on about why we shouldn't stress over things, but we do….and that is part of life. We know it is bad for us and we know it has no real benefit but we can be stress balls at times.
Let's not stress about stress, let's figure out all the things we can do to decrease it, lessen in it and have more joy in our lives.
Here are some tips to take down that stress, and get the most out of this holiday season.
Say no more often. Don’t think you have to please everyone just because of the holidays. Pick things that are important to you, like catching up with your cousin that you haven’t seen since last year, and say no to the friend you have lunch with every Saturday. They will understand, and even if they don’t, it is okay, they are your friend and they will still love you.
Prioritize effectively. You have to decorate the house, buy the gifts, plan the party. What needs to be done now, and what can wait until tomorrow? Can you have your family help? Or make a day of it with your friends. The holidays are about spending time with the people you love after all.
Think of some creative ways to celebrate. Maybe you can host this time. Or ditch those gifts for your older children and indulge in a vacation instead. Think outside the box, and you might just have the best holiday yet!
Get work done early so you can have time to play. Don’t procrastinate this time of year. When the family comes around, you want to have time to relax and hang out with them. Need some help? Give your children an early present to help around the house.
Learn how to relax. Figure out what your favorite things are, and indulge a little during the holidays. For example, I love love love Starbucks’ eggnog latte, even though it is not so great for you. I get extra milk and a little less eggnog to make it just a tiny bit healthier. They my holiday treat, and having some every so often is perfectly fine.
I also enjoy having a glass of red wine with friends I only see once a year.
I think getting together with friends and family that I very rarely see, is my favorite thing about the holidays. That is why every year we throw a holiday party at our house and invite people from all areas of our lives.
It is a ton of work but I love doing it and seeing everyone have fun.
Matter of fact, the party is tonight, so I am going to cut out and finish decorating. Have a blast this weekend and a ton of holiday cheer.
-SJW