As I am writing this Wellness blog, I am enjoying vanilla ice cream with yoghurt. It is December, summer, and the festive season has started. We all have a list of things to do before Christmas – buying and wrapping presents, preparing holiday food, and completing the last of the work projects.
Because you are so busy you will probably forget to prioritise your health, but December is a time to be dedicated to your Wellness. The best present you could get for yourself is the space to prioritise your health.
Walker and I would like to share with you Four Healthy Holiday Habits to practise during this festive time.
- Be a beacon of hope – the people around you need hope. When they release their anxiety, stress and tiredness on you remind them that their bodies need rest.
Walker’s suggestion: Encourage people to sleep enough, to stretch when they stand up, and to go for long, slow walks to unwind.
- Be present and bring peace – when you eat during Christmas time chew your food slowly, don’t rush to get more, and enjoy the moment. Your food digests better when the digestive process is thorough. Set the pace for other people at the table and encourage them to eat slowly. Ask them to describe what they taste and smell. Be thankful for the food. Take your time when preparing food with others and keep stress about the holiday table to a minimum.
Walker’s suggestion: Remember to share healthy food with your furry and feathery friends!
- Be joyful and encourage joy
December will be filled with lights and music. Sing along and work your lungs. Move your body in harmony with the music.
Walker’s suggestion: Give everyone a ball – some will enjoy throwing it, some will like kicking it and some can have fun while hitting it.
- Be the love angel – although the festive season is a happy time there will still be people close to you that need a hug a lot more than they need new socks. These are the people who need a listening ear rather than the noise of crackers or fireworks. When you have focused on your Wellness during the months leading up to the festive season, you will have the energy and serenity to help these people.
Walker’s suggestion: Give healthy hugs – not too tight and don’t intrude on people’s space. Just give enough that they can feel someone cares and acknowledges their existence. They are not alone.
These healthy holiday habits will keep your Wellness on track, while you do not have to feel guilty about the holiday extras. I am going to enjoy the Christmas fruitcake and maybe some trifle without discussing calories and exercise. And then I will share my abundance with a lonely friend, because I know I am going to be dedicated in December to sustain my Wellness.
Your Wellness buddies,
Sarlene and Walker
