The holiday season is upon us. I want to help you make the most of the season by staying healthy, happy, and balanced.
We all know that the holidays have their own special energies. They can be a time of great fun and gathering, stress filled, sad, or a combination of all the above. This year might prove to be a mix due to last year’s lockdown and limited travel. Preparing, taking self-time, and being heart-centered can help you make the most of the holiday season.
DR. LAURA’S TIPS TO KEEP YOU HEALTHY, HAPPY, AND BALANCED
Keep your routines – This is my number one treatment for hormone balancing and it holds true even more so during the holidays. Keeping your routine will ensure that your hormones stay in check. It also helps your sleep pattern, mood, immune system, and energy. Sticking to a routine is effective and easy 😉
Create boundaries – One of the biggest stressors is the events and gatherings of families and friends. Trying to connect and meet with absolutely everyone in your circle can be exhausting. Make a plan and decide which parties to attend. Don’t feel bad about declining invitations. Make plans to meet after the new year when things have calmed down. This year more people will be out and trying to get together, having a plan will help keep you more balanced and happy.
Pass on the abundance of sweets – Sugar, even though it tastes good, has several down sides. It depletes the immune system, causes a spike and then drop in blood sugar leaving you more fatigued, feeds pathogenic yeast and bacteria in the gut, and can lead you to eating more and more sugar. The holiday season gives you the opportunity to overindulge on sweets, make this year different. Abstaining completely is an option but…
If you choose to indulge:
- Set a limit to a taste of the dessert or cookie vs a whole dessert or many cookies.
- Have an alternative option that you can partake in so you don’t feel like you’re missing out.
- Check out recipes for paleo, keto, or sugar-free desserts. There are many options that you can make and still be healthy. One recipe I’ve recently made was black bean brownies. They were delicious and nobody knew the difference!
Give the gift of love – One of the biggest stressors can be buying gifts. This year simplify or make your gifts. Getting creative with the gift giving can be a fun expression of you and will mean more to the receiver. Over the years I’ve made many different gifts. Here are a few – knitted scarves, hats, or purses, herbal tea blends, essential oil room sprays, and body products like salt scrubs, lip balm, or herbal powder. Other options are making a meal for your loved ones, creating a special outing with them, or cleaning their house. Giving a gift that comes from the heart means so much more and will be remembered.
Support your immune system – The immune system has been a hot topic over the past couple of years and it is even more important that you are nourishing and supporting it during the holidays. Most of my patients have been on a standard regimen of vitamins C and D, zinc and quercetin. These are all great nutrients that support the immune system. Check out my blog for the specifics. All of the other tips I provide here also support the immune system, try them out. If you find yourself getting sick give the office a call for some extra support. We can help keep you healthy.
These are just a few tips to help you get through the holidays.
I’d love to hear what you do that supports your health and keeps you balanced. Drop me a line and let me know.
