While it's a magical time of year filled with gatherings, parties, good food and cocktails, it can also bring on a lot of stress, anxiety, and a sense of overwhelm... I know I’m feeling it.
I wanted to share some ways in which I cope with the feelings of stress and anxiety that may be supportive for you as well—truly getting back to the basics and not overcomplicating things.
Mornings or evenings are typically the best moments to carve out some time in solitude, giving you space and time to connect with yourself, decompress, ground your energy, and re-center.
Use this time to do things that calm your nervous system down and bring you back to yourself, and avoid scrolling on your phone at this time as well. This helps you fully recharge and fosters a deeper connection with yourself.
Here are some of my top suggestions:
Journaling: Put everything taking up space in your mind to paper, freeing up mental space. Write down or draw all worries, fears, frustrations, or anything that resonates with you at that moment.
Meditation: Connect with yourself by closing your eyes, taking deep breaths, tuning into your body, and quieting your mind. You can find great quick guided meditations on YouTube to help you. Here is one of my favorites.
Deep Breathing: When you're feeling anxious, that’s an indicator that you're living in your head and disconnected from your body. Deep belly breathing, in through the nose, out through the mouth, will signal to your body and nervous system that you are safe, helping you drop out of your racing mind and back into the body. Here's a quick breathing practice.
Gratitude or Prayer: Shifting your focus to gratitude can instantly redirect your energy away from stress. Every time you notice yourself stressing about all the things you have to do, shift to being grateful for having parties to go to, people to celebrate with, family to buy presents for, food to eat.
Getting Outside For A Walk: Get some fresh air to gain clarity and calm…trust me, it always helps. Recent studies show that walking results in the release of chemicals (e.g. endorphins) in the brain that ease stress and benefit your mood.
Dancing: When you find yourself overthinking, put your favorite song on and allow yourself to dance. It's way too easy to get caught up in all the stress, but we are meant to be living in joy. Dancing will help you drop out of your head and back into your body as well as help you take things less seriously. Even if it's the last thing you want to do...trust me, it will help! If you have kids, this is a fun activity to get them involved in to create more positive energy in your home.
Finding small pockets of time throughout your day to connect to yourself, your breath, and your center truly can make a world of difference.
Be gentle with yourself and show yourself love and compassion. This too shall pass!
If you're ready to transform your relationship with food, your body, and yourself in the New Year, I would love to support you! I truly believe that you CAN have a healthy relationship with yourself, your body and food without restriction or deprivation. Finally feel good in your body, confident in your food choices, and feel supported along the way.
If you're ready to make a positive change, let's connect for a complimentary consultation and start your journey to a healthier, happier you! Click here to book your call today.
Sending you my love,
Holly
