I’ve always been obsessed with Christmas, especially music. The second those Mariah Carey Christmas songs start playing at the grocery stores, I become hooked. All the memories of my childhood Christmases come flooding in and happiness just fills my soul. I absolutely love Christmas.
However, as adults, Christmas season is not necessarily a time of bliss and joy like all of the songs tell us it is. It’s also full of holiday parties, hangovers, overspending, obligations, major clutter, overwhelm, stress and burn out.
So, this year, I have decided to get a head start on my health kick, which typically begins in January. I’ll be slowly implementing these self care habits and rituals so that I don’t experience the typical holiday burn out and lessen the guilt that has us spending all January in detox mode.
When it comes to manifesting and creating out dream life, stress, worry and overwhelm can send our body in to quick fight or flight and living in survival mode which will kill your manifestations. Stay in that calm, neutral and zen state of mind with these self care strategies.
These 8 simple holiday self care tips are what I will be implementing as we move into the end of the year.
01 | Consistent movement
Fun fact: though the positive feelings from exercise are often attributed to endorphins, it’s actually quite the contrary that endorphins are responsible for the mood boost, according to John Hopkin’s Medicine.
Instead, that positive feeling is more likely related to an increase in chemicals called endocannabinoids. These are natural chemicals produced by the body that can move through the blood-brain barrier and act as mood-boosters.
When we are consistent with moving our bodies, we produce more of the feel good chemicals and hormones. You don’t have to burn yourself out with rigorous workouts either, find something simple that you love to do that gets your body moving, even if only for 20 minutes.
A few body movement rituals you may like:
♥️ Morning yoga flow - I really like this one.
♥️ A walk around your neighborhood (it is always really good for your body and digestion to walk after meals)
♥️ Find a new exercise class that excites you and see if a friend will join you. I love doing pilates with girlfriends.
♥️ I can’t tell you how many of my friends are obsessed with this walking pad, you can walk while watching Christmas movies.
02 | Cycle Syncing
In my workshop, Goddess Glow Up, part of the program is learning how to sync your cycle. During your menstrual cycle, hormone changes can cause swings in your mood, energy, appetite, creativity and social engagement all of which affect your energy and mindset. Cycle syncing is a way to adapt your lifestyle to these changes to achieve better balance and feel your best.
So, whip out your calendar and track the month with each phase of your cycle. For each phase, you will want to focus your diet, exercise and physical activity in accordance with the energy levels.
Menstruation (Days 1-7) Time to rest & rejuvinate
Exercise: Take it easy on your body and focus on rest. Do something lower intensity, like yoga, Pilates, meditation and walking.
Diet: Increase your iron intake by eating foods high in iron (like green leafy vegetables, red meat and beans) and vitamin C (like citrus fruits and berries).
Vitamins: Iron, zinc, magnesium
Follicular phase (Days 8-13) Time to check off the to-do list
Exercise: Your energy levels will rise, but you may experience low stamina. Stick to walking or light cardio and strength training.
Diet: Support energy with carbohydrates like fruit and whole grains and balance estrogen with avocados, broccoli, cauliflower and fermented foods.
Vitamins: B Vitamins, Zinc
Ovulation (Days 14-15) Time to socialize
Exercise: Your energy levels are at their peak. Focus on more intense or prolonged exercise activities like HIIT workouts, running and cycling.
Diet: Continue with foods that support the follicular phase. Make sure you hydrate to compensate for the water you’ll lose through sweating due to more intense workouts.
Vitamins: Omega 3’s, Choline, Magnesium
Luteal phase (Days 15-28) Time to slow down
Exercise: As your energy starts to lower, focus on low-impact activities such as yoga, Pilates, swimming or barre classes.
Diet: Your cravings may increase, and it may be for less-than-healthy foods. Satisfy cravings with plenty of protein and high-fiber foods (like complex carbs and veggies). Stay hydrated and choose to snack on healthy snacks like dark chocolate, fruit and lightly salted nuts.
Vitamins: Potassium, chasteberry, calcium, magnesium, iodine
**You can listen to episode 263 of the Blissfully Ambitious podcast for more on this topic.
03 | Practice saying No
Once you have sorted out your calendar with your phases and understand your energy levels throughout the month, you should focus on managing your time and your obligations wisely. Hot tip: Always choose YOU first.
This year, why not challenge yourself to stop and think about what commitments you are making or what obligations you are saying yes to. Remember, when you say yes to something, that means you are saying no to something else.
Saying yes to another holiday party, might mean saying no to a good nights sleep.
Saying yes to a big gift shopping spree might mean saying no to paying down your debt.
Saying yes to another glass of wine might mean saying no to your morning workout.
How can you better practice saying no this holiday?
04 | Add adaptogens to your daily routine
Adaptogens are herbs, roots and other plant substances (like mushrooms) that help our bodies manage stress and restore balance after a stressful situation. They also help the body function better than its natural capacity.
These ancient healing herbs are needed more than ever. Whether the stressor is environmental (originating in your body) or psychological (triggering your fight-or-flight response and causing the release of cortisol), adaptogens are packed with amino acids and/or vitamins that help manage the harmful effects stress has on the body.
A few adaptogens I love and swear by:
Ashwaganda - This is an herb that helps your body handle stress without going quickly into fight or flight mode. I like to drink Ashwaganda tea but you can also take it as a vitamin.
Rhodiola rosea - This is a fabulous herb for increasing energy levels, your moods and your mental performance which is key in handling stress.
05 | Level up your skin care routine
There is nothing I love more than glowy, dewy skin. When I turned 40, I became relentless in the pursuit of keeping my glow with these 6 habits. Needless to say, I am always upgrading and leveling up my skin care routines.
Earlier this year, I purchased a cute pink facial steamer for my house so that I can give myself facials whenever I need a refresh. Let me tell you that I have absolutely loved taking care of my skin even more after using a steamer, gua sha and diving into the world of Korean skincare.
Two beauty products I am obsessed with and you need this winter:
Snail mucin. This product is so gooey and rich, it will hydrate your skin to feel so plump you just won’t believe it. I use this after my serums and right before my moisturizer.
Rice Overnight Mask. The same Korean brand also makes this rice mask and I absolutely love it. I slather it all over my face, neck, hands and elbows. This moisturizes my skin without feeling like its clogging up all my pores, I just love it.
06 | Prioritize your sleep
Sleep is critically important for proper stress management, nutrition, mindset, overall health and wellbeing. Do absolutely anything that you can to prioritize getting really good sleep.
Here are some of the things that I do to make sure I have proper sleep:
I invested in good bedding and deliciously soft sheets.
I decorated my room in dark, cool colors to promote sleep
I keep the temperature at 68 degrees so I have a cold room, which helps you sleep better
I avoid scrolling before bed and read a book instead
I drink warm ashwaganda tea before bed and I add CALM magnesium powder to it. At least a full tablespoon.
I keep my hair wrapped up so it doesn’t get caught up in my neck and wake me up. These silk turbans are so helpful for this.
I sleep on mulberry silk pillowcases.
I wear comfy pajamas, this short set in particular I love to sleep in
07 | PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE and pick up your journal
Here’s the thing. During the holidays, the trap of social media can send anyone down a deep bottle of wine and a box of chocolates mind spiral. Looking at what others would consider someones “perfect” can be incredibly triggering, as can seeing all of the things people are buying up for the holidays. It can leave you in a financial mess and 10 pounds up.
So, resist the urge to scroll on your social media and let all of your thoughts feelings and emotions out onto your journal so you can clear out some mental clutter. I even have a guided journal that can help you do this called The Daily Bliss journal: 111 personal reflections to inspire self love, nourish your soul and realize your worth.
08 | rEAD BOOKS ON FINANCIAL LITERACY
So many people find holidays to be the most triggering time for money and finances. Whether its buying outfits for the parties, gifts for family and friends, traveling to see loved ones or nights out drinking, your bank account is sure to take a hit.
Instead of allowing yourself to stress out about it, you may want to consider reading a book on financial literacy so you can feel more in control of this area of your life.
A few great books that you might want to consider starting with:
♥️ Rich Dad, Poor Dad : what the rich teach their kids about money
I hope you enjoy this blog post and try out some of these self care strategies this year.
