Beat the Holiday Blues:
By Donya Fahmy
7 Tips for Staying Happy & Healthy During the Season
The holidays are usually a joyous and wonderful time of the year for most people. For a lot of people, they can be stressful and challenging. Whether it’s related to gift-giving anxiety, travel upsets, inclement weather, difficult family dynamics, isolation or overindulgence, this time of year can make us all more susceptible to colds, flu, fatigue, depression and general malaise.
Why is this?
This is often the result of a combination of circumstances and events all taking place at the same time. For one thing, the days are considerably shorter so there’s a lot less natural light. The weather gets colder which tends to make us stay indoors more, further limiting our exposure to the shrinking sunlight.
By the time the holiday rolls around your body is already in the human equivalent of hibernation mode. But as we all know, hibernating is the last thing most of us do during the holiday season.
Instead, we brave the cold weather, traffic jams, crowds and long lines to get our holiday gift shopping done (often at the last minute). We stay out late; drink too much; eat too much; and scramble under pressure to complete projects or plans before the close of the year.
Add to that the pressure of living up to the expectations of children and family members during tough economic times, and travel upsets typical for this time of year, and you’ve got a recipe for major stress.
So what can you do to take a little bit of the edge off this time of year? Here are some tips to help you keep your stress to a minimum and improve your mood so you can enjoy the holiday season:
Plan ahead
The more you plan in advance the more prepared you’ll be to go with the natural flow of things including unexpected changes to your plans. This applies to everything from gift shopping, to entertaining, to holiday travel.
Get plenty of rest. Stay hydrated and remember to breathe … deeply!
Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night or make up for lost sleep by taking naps or sleeping in. Lower your alcohol consumption and drink plenty of other fluids, especially water, to stay hydrated. And remember to breathe often and deeply.
Avoid refined carbohydrates and sugars
OK. This is a tough one but can make a huge difference in how you feel. Refined carbs tend to spike then deplete your serotonin levels leaving you exhausted. So indulge a little if you must, but stick to healthier treats like dark chocolate or seasonal fruits. Balance things out by eating serotonin-enhancing foods like whole grains, root vegetables, beans, legumes, seeds, and nuts, along with a little lean protein (turkey or fish).
Boost your immune system with supplements, essential fatty acids, and antioxidant-rich foods
It’s not unusual for the holiday season to bring on a case of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Try taking a Vitamin D supplement and getting one of those light boxes to help boost your mood during the holidays and throughout the dark winter months. Eat plenty of green leafy foods, berries, and orange juice pack a punch to protect you from colds and flu. EFAs like Flaxseed or Evening Primrose can alleviate dry skin, hair, and nails; balance and regulate hormones and cholesterol, and help burn fat and ease depression.
Slow down. Take time to savor and enjoy the rituals of the season
Remember that time well spent with your loved ones is the greatest gift of all. But carve out some down time or alone time for yourself too. Stay present with yourself and everyone around you and practice forgiveness and acceptance. Just choose to let go of whatever is troubling you for the moment.
Reach out to others, especially those in need
With all the focus on family and social interaction, the holidays can magnify feelings of isolation or loneliness for those who can’t be with family or don’t have a family to be with. Helping others in need has a profoundly healing and uplifting zz effect, both physiological and psychological. Bringing joy to others can provide a sense of meaningful connection if you’re feeling left out. It helps you to appreciate how much you already have to be thankful for.
Surround yourself with uplifting and nurturing sounds and smells
Two of the fastest ways to raise your vibrational frequency (which is low when you’re sick or stressed out) are listening to music and using essential oils. Listen to music that you love or that soothes you as often as possible whether it is seasonal or not. Surround yourself with scents that make you feel good and bring back good memories. If holiday scents make you feel sad or depressed then, by all means, avoid them!
When it comes to scents, the interesting thing is that the part of your brain that regulates smell is also the part of the brain that regulates memories, so smells can have strong associations with either positive or negative memories.
Many of the smells associated with the holidays can be uplifting
The scent of a live Christmas tree or fresh cut wreath, the mulling spices from cider or the comforting smell of baked goods. However, if you’re prone to depression or anxiety during this time of year then those smells can act as a trigger and should be avoided.
Instead, create your own oasis of comforting and nurturing scents. The ones that evoke happy times and put a smile on your face—and surround yourself with those scents. Avoid synthetic fragrances and stick to essential oils, which are known for their stress-relieving and therapeutic properties.
Citrus oils are the most effective for alleviating depression and improving your mood. Especially grapefruit, orange, tangerine, and lime (oils typically extracted from the rind of the fruit). More expensive but also highly effective are oils extracted from the orange blossoms, stems. Also, leaves of the citrus trees like bergamot, petitgrain, and neroli.
Of course, if holiday smells are your thing, you can easily create and enjoy them with essential oils like pine, fir, juniper, cedarwood, clove, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Put a few drops of any oil or blend of oils in a diffuser or potpourri burner or in a cup of Epsom salts and add to a nice hot bath. Make a lovely spritzer by adding 15 drops of any essential oil or combination of oils to one ounce of purified water.
Always keep a small bottle of aromatherapy product handy and pull it out and sniff it whenever you need a little booster. Rub a small amount into your palms, bring to your face and inhale deeply.
Copyright 2009-2017 Dropwise Essentials
_________________________________________________________________________
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, WEB SITE OR BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it. Donya Fahmy is the CEO of Sustainable Health Solutions Inc. and the founder and formulator of Dropwise Essentials. A line of spa-quality aromatherapy and organic plant-based personal care products. Donya is a Natural Health & Lifestyle Transformation Facilitator and Mentor who specializes in helping women radically reduce their risk for chronic disease while continuing to look and feel great as they mature. For more information on Dropwise products visit www.dropwise.com. For more tips, inspiration, and wellness wisdom join her Facebook group Women’s Wellness and Natural Healing for Success https://www.facebook.com/groups/195317521833838
