Take Care of Yourself First!
Thanksgiving is upon us again and I’m curious if you’re staying on track with your health during this holiday season?
It’s so easy to get out of hand with all the yummy dishes, parties, and alcohol around us. Although a great holiday to get together with our loved ones, friends and families, it can also be stressful for some of us due to family dynamics, old hurts and dysfunction.
Make a conscious decision to take great care of yourself by implementing a self-care routine. Is it time to dust off that meditation practice? How about morning Qigong or relaxing yoga? Maybe a nice long walk in nature is the trick. A simple time out taking 6-10 deep breaths can make a huge difference in how you navigate your daily activities and obligations.
Whichever self-care routine appeals to you, it’s more important than ever to stop all the busyness and put yourself first each day. If you take the time each morning to exercise before anything else, you know it will be done and you’ll help alleviate stress, and guilt when perhaps you overindulged a little bit.
Sometimes we can feel like we’re being selfish by taking care of ourselves. This is so far from the truth. If you really think about it, your happy, relaxed self is a huge gift to everyone around you. When you’re stressed out, your energy affects everything and everyone around you, everyone feels it.
One of the best side effects from putting your self-care first is your ability to navigate “the rushing around” this time of year, personality issues, shopping, and end of year stresses at work. Side benefit: You may just find yourself getting more done in less time.
You know the feeling when you’re efforting to get things done? Doesn’t feel good. You’ve also had experiences where you were in “the flow,” where everything just works and comes together effortlessly. This is the different between taking care of yourself first or running around, stressed out trying to please everyone else and being a superhero, meaning everything to everybody.
When you’re in the flow, you’re also less likely stray too far from your healthy eating habits. Take your time to make sure you’re eating regular meals and drinking plenty of water before going to an event. Eat healthy before you go and you’ll eat less when you get there.
“Moderation. Small helpings. Sample a little bit of everything. These are the secrets of happiness and good health.” – Julia Child Some Tips to Stay On Track with Your Healthy Food Choices Another tip to stay on track with your health over the holidays is to pay attention to your full/empty set point. On a scale of zero to 10 for example, with zero being empty and starving and 10 being full to the point of being sick, make a point of sticking between 3-5.
Remember, your stomach is the size of your fist. Look at your hand right now and make a fist. That’s how much room is in your stomach. Only put that much food on your plate, no more. Keep in mind, it’s okay if you don’t eat everything at the party. Choose 2 or 3 items only.
If you want to have dessert, go ahead. Life is supposed to be enjoyed. Just take ½ a piece of the dessert or less. Enjoy 2-3 bites, then put the fork down. Make the most of each bite by taking your time to really enjoy it, get all your senses involved, and take your time to savor each bite.
Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy life. Be grateful for the simple pleasures. Implement these tips so you feel like a rock star afterwards. You’ll be so proud of yourself!!! If you slip up, let it be okay. It’s never too late to start again.
If you'd like some help to keep your mindset healthy, give me a call. I'd love to talk with you about how a personalized hypnotherapy program can make it easier to stay on track. I am grateful for YOU!
With Love, Colleen
Comments